howitzer
(ˈhaʊɪtsə(r))
Forms: α. 8 hau-, haw-, hobitzer. β. 7 hauwitzer, 8 hawitzer, 8– howitzer.
[A deriv. of prec.; the same suffix appears in Du. houwitser (in 1663 houvietser), Fr. obusier for earlier obus (see Hatz.-Darm.).]
A short piece of ordnance, usually of light weight, specially designed for the horizontal firing of shells with small charges, and adapted for use in a mountainous country.
| α 1703 Lond. Gaz. No. 3941/2 A Battery of two Mortars and 4 Haubitzers. 1736 T. Lediard Life Marlborough III. 138, 12 Hawbitzers, or little Mortars. 1760 Hist. Europe in Ann. Reg. 14/1 The signal.. was given by four hawbitzers fired in the air. |
| β 1695 Lond. Gaz. No. 3106/3, 40 Mortars and Hauwitzers. 1704 Ibid. No. 4059/3, 2 Hawitzers, and 100 Hand-Mortars. 1812 Examiner 14 Sept. 581/1 We drove the enemy from..the town by howitzers. 1884 J. Colborne Hicks Pasha 158 At each corner..were placed..the rifled howitzers. |
† b. The shell thrown by this piece of ordnance.
| 1761 Brit. Mag. II. 442 A..body of Russians..had begun to throw some howitzers into that town, with an intention to set the magazines on fire. |
c. Comb., as
howitzer-boat (
cf. gunboat).
| 1801 Nelson 15 Aug. in Nicolas Disp. (1845) IV. 463 Captain Coun who commands the Division of Howitzer-Boats..is to open his fire from the Howitzers upon the batteries and camp. 1844 W. Siborne Waterloo I. x. 386 (Stanf.) Major Bull's British howitzer horse-battery. |