canister shot

Variant of canister

canister definition

can·is·ter (kan′is tər)

noun

  1. a small box or can for coffee, tea, tobacco, etc.
  2. a boxlike vacuum cleaner
  3. Historical lead or iron shot in a container that scattered its contents when fired
    in full canister shot
  4. the part of a gas mask that contains the substances for filtering the air to be breathed

Etymology: ME < L canistrum, wicker basket < Gr kanastron < kanna, a reed: see cane

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.