HOWITZER
mortar, howitzer, trench mortar
(noun) a muzzle-loading high-angle gun with a short barrel that fires shells at high elevations for a short range
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
howitzer (plural howitzers)
A cannon that combines certain characteristics of guns and mortars. The howitzer delivers projectiles with medium velocities, either by low or high trajectories.
Normally a cannon with a tube length of 20 to 30 calibers; however, the tube length can exceed 30 calibers and still be considered a howitzer when the high angle fire zoning solution permits range overlap between charges
(sports, rugby, ice hockey) A powerfully hit shot.
Source: Wiktionary
How"itz*er, n. Etym: [G. haubitze, formerly hauffnitz, Bohem.
haufnice, orig., a sling.] (Mil.)
(a) A gun so short that the projectile, which was hollow, could be
put in its place by hand; a kind of mortar. [Obs.]
(b) A short, light, largebore cannon, usually having a chamber of
smaller diameter than the rest of the bore, and intended to throw
large projectiles with comparatively small charges.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition