how·it·zer

(hou′ĭt-sər)

A relatively short cannon that delivers shells at a medium muzzle velocity, usually by a high trajectory.

[Dutch houwitser, from German Haubitze, alteration of obsolete haufnitz, catapult, from Old Czech haufnice, probably from haufný, catapult that slung many stones at once : hauf, group, heap (probably from Middle High German hūfe, from Old High German hūfo) + -ný, n. suff.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

howitzer

(ˈhaʊɪtsə)

(Firearms, Gunnery, Ordnance & Artillery) a cannon having a short or medium barrel with a low muzzle velocity and a steep angle of fire

[C16: from Dutch houwitser, from German Haubitze, from Czech houfnice stone-sling]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

how•itz•er

(ˈhaʊ ɪt sər)

n.

a cannon with a comparatively short barrel, used esp. for firing shells at an elevated angle.

[1685–95; < Dutch houvietser=houviets- (< German Haubitze < Czech houfnice slingshot)]

howitzer

1. A cannon that combines certain characteristics of guns and mortars. The howitzer delivers projectiles with medium velocities, either by low or high trajectories.
2. 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. See also gun; mortar.

Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

howitzer - a muzzle-loading high-angle gun with a short barrel that fires shells at high elevations for a short range

mortar, trench mortar

high-angle gun - a cannon that can be fired at a high elevation for relatively short ranges

Translations

haupitsi

howitzer

[ˈhaʊitsəʳ] N → obús m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

howitzer

[ˈhaʊɪtsə^r] n → obusier m

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

howitzer

n → Haubitze f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

howitzer

[ˈhaʊɪtsəʳ] n (Mil) → obice m

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

He was nothing more than a sort of a mountain howitzer, likely, because they had no heavy artillery in those days.

History is silent concerning the last acts of the mountain howitzer. Let the world say what it will about him, I, at least, shall always respect the memory and sorrow for the abused trust and the broken heart and the troubled spirit of the old smooth-bore.

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It seemed to be floating amid a hail of howitzer shells, the smallest of which might destroy it instantly.

View in context

At the same time the commander of the artillery of the 1st Corps, General Pernetti, with thirty cannon of Campan's division and all the howitzers of Dessaix's and Friant's divisions, will move forward, open fire, and overwhelm with shellfire the enemy's battery, against which will operate:

The commander of the artillery of the 3rd Corps, General Fouche, will place the howitzers of the 3rd and 8th Corps, sixteen in all, on the flanks of the battery that is to bombard the entrenchment on the left, which will have forty guns in all directed against it.

General Sorbier must be ready at the first order to advance with all the howitzers of the Guard's artillery against either one or other of the entrenchments.

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In point of grazing, plunging, oblique, or enfilading, or point-blank firing, the English, French, and Prussians have nothing to learn; but their cannon, howitzers, and mortars are mere pocket-pistols compared with the formidable engines of the American artillery.

One day, however-- sad and melancholy day!-- peace was signed between the survivors of the war; the thunder of the guns gradually ceased, the mortars were silent, the howitzers were muzzled for an indefinite period, the cannon, with muzzles depressed, were returned into the arsenal, the shot were repiled, all bloody reminiscences were effaced; the cotton-plants grew luxuriantly in the well-manured fields, all mourning garments were laid aside, together with grief; and the Gun Club was relegated to profound inactivity.

They reverted invariably to gigantic shells and howitzers of unparalleled caliber.

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They embarked in four boats, one of which was of a large size, mounting a swivel, and two howitzers. All were furnished with masts and sails, to be used when the wind was sufficiently favorable and strong to overpower the current of the river.

View in context

By type, the global artillery systems market has been segmented into mortars, howitzers, rocket artillery, and others.

Artillery Systems Market Business Growth, Opportunities, Comprehensive Analysis, Competitive Landscape, Size, Share, Segments to 2023

The howitzer will help the force to modernise its artillery which had been awaiting induction for over three decades till sometime ago.

India's first indigenously built Dhanush howitzer inducted in Army