(kan′ən) noun plural ·nons or ·non
1. Mil. a A large tubular weapon for discharging a heavy projectile; especially, one mounted on a carriage, movable or fixed. b A big artillery gun. c Artillery collectively.
2. The great bone′between the fetlock and knee or hock of the horse and allied animals: also cannon bone.
3. A carom.
4. Mech. A loose metallic sleeve on a shaft.
5. A smooth round bit for a horse: also cannon bit.
6. The ear of a bell; one of the parts by which it is hung.
—v.t.
1. To attack with cannon shot.
2. In billiards, to cause to carom.
3. To cause to rebound from one object to another.
—v.i.
4. To fire cannon repeatedly.
5. In billiards, to make a carom.
6. To rebound from one object to another. ◆ Homophone: canon. [<OF canon <Ital. cannone, aug. of canna tube, pipe]

(kan′ən), Annie Jump,
1863–1941, U.S. astronomer.
—Joseph Gurney,
1836–1926, U.S. politician, member of the House of Representatives 1873–91, 1893–1913, 1915–1923.