What does cannoning mean?
"Cannoning" is the present participle of the verb "to cannon," which means to strike or collide with something with considerable force. Its most established use is in cue sports such as billiards and snooker, where a ball is said to cannon when it hits another ball or cushion, often setting up a subsequent shot. Beyond the table, the word appears in sports reporting and everyday description for any forceful collision — a footballer whose shot cannons off the goalpost, or a pedestrian who cannons into a passer-by. Typically paired with "off" or "into," the word carries a sense of sudden, uncontrolled impact rather than deliberate aggression. It should not be confused with "canyoning," the adventure sport of descending river gorges. Rooted in the same origin as the military weapon, "cannoning" vividly borrows the imagery of artillery fire for moments of sharp physical contact.
verbThe present participle of "cannon"; to cannon means to strike something or someone with forceful impact, especially in billiards or snooker where one ball strikes another, or more generally to collide with or crash into something.
- To strike or collide with something with force, especially a ball striking another in billiards or snooker.
- To move or be propelled after a forceful impact, as when a body or object ricochets off a surface.
"The cue ball cannoned off the red and sent it spinning toward the corner pocket."
"He cannoned into a lamppost while texting and nearly dropped his phone."
"The striker's shot cannoned off the post and flew back across the goalmouth."
In snooker commentary, 'cannoned off' describes the moment a cue ball ricochets with such force that it behaves like artillery — which is fitting, since the word comes from the same root as the weapon.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cannoning
The verb "to cannon" derives from the noun "cannon," the heavy artillery piece, which entered English in the early 15th century. The noun itself came via French "canon" from Italian "cannone," meaning "large tube," an augmentative of Italian "canna" meaning "tube" or "reed," ultimately from Latin "canna" meaning reed or cane, borrowed from Greek "kanna." The figurative verbal use — describing a ball striking another with force — developed later, becoming firmly associated with billiards and other ball games.
Related word forms
How cannoning is actually used
"Cannoning" is almost always used as part of the continuous form of the verb "to cannon," typically followed by "off" or "into." The term is most familiar from British sports commentary on snooker, billiards, and football. It is informal-to-neutral in register.
Easily confused with cannoning
Canyoning is an outdoor sport of descending river canyons by climbing, abseiling, and swimming, whereas cannoning is the act of striking or colliding with something.
Canonization is the formal act of declaring someone a saint, unrelated to the physical striking sense of cannoning despite the similar spelling.