Cannonball

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkænənˌbɔːl/

Definitions

1. A heavy solid sphere used as ammunition in cannons ; a dive into water performed by tucking the body to create a splash
2. A round metal ball shot from a large gun in historical warfare ; a jumping dive where the jumper curls into a ball to generate splash
3. A solid iron or stone sphere launched by artillery; a style of jumping into a pool with legs and arms folded tightly to make a large splash

Etymology: Cannonball is a plain compound: "cannon" joined to "ball," describing the round ball fired from a cannon. The sense of the word is therefore literal from the start, and the name follows the projectile rather than the other way round. The word's second meaning, a dive in which the body is tucked into a tight ball to make a splash, grows out of the shape of the diver rather than the weapon. A diver who curls into a sphere before hitting the water looks like the round shot being fired, and the same image carries the term across. Both senses rest on one picture: a compact, rounded mass moving through the air or water with force. The name of the weapon was simply transferred to the body shape, and the two meanings have stayed side by side ever since.

Synonyms: projectile, missile