howitzer

Where does the word "howitzer" come from? It comes from Czech houfnice, passing through German before entering English (1700s).

Howitzer’s story begins in Czech: houfnice meant “a catapult, a type of cannon.” Meaning "a catapult" or "sling", later applied to cannons. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in German as Haubitze. Adopted for a short cannon firing at a high angle. It reached English by 1700s as howitzer. Czech 'houfnice', a stone-sling, used by Hussite armies in the 1420s. Today, howitzer means a short cannon that fires shells at a steep angle.

1. Stage 1 · Czech · medieval houfnice "a catapult, a type of cannon", meaning "a catapult" or "sling", later applied to cannons.
2. Stage 2 · German · 1600s Haubitze "a short-barreled cannon", adopted for a short cannon firing at a high angle.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1700s howitzer "a short cannon that fires shells in a high arc", Czech 'houfnice', a stone-sling, used by Hussite armies in the 1420s.