# cannonball

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkænənˌbɔːl/ · frequency rank #33,974

## Definitions
1. A spherical projectile fired from a smoothbore cannon.
2. An explosive-filled hollow iron sphere fused through a hole and intended to explode at a calculated distance rather than explode on impact.
3. The act of jumping (typically into a swimming pool) with the legs bent and the arms wrapped around the knees to create a large splash, mimicking the flight and shape of a cannonball.
4. Something that moves fast, especially a fast train.
5. A served ball that travels with great speed and describes little or no arc in flight.

## Etymology
From cannon + ball from being a round ball that is fired from a cannon.

## Common misspellings (12)
`acnnonball`, `cannnoball`, `cannobnall`, `cannonabll`, `cannonbal`, `cannonbball`, `cannonblal`, `cannonnball`, `canonball`, `canonnball`, `ccannonball`, `cnanonball`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/cannonball