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Glite Dictionary
cannon cocker

cannon cocker

9.9
A person who loads and fires a cannon for the army or reenactments
  • noun
  • Archaic
translation icon : artillero
  • During the battle reenactment, the cannon cocker loaded the gunpowder with practiced skill.

Examples

  • Many artillery units rely on an experienced cannon cocker to ensure safe and accurate firing.

  • The cannon cocker's uniform was covered in soot after a long day of firing exercises.

  • The cannon cocker fired the cannon with precision.

  • During the reenactment, the cannon cockers worked together flawlessly.

  • During the battle reenactment, the cannon cocker loaded the gunpowder with practiced skill.

  • Many artillery units rely on an experienced cannon cocker to ensure safe and accurate firing.

  • The cannon cocker's uniform was covered in soot after a long day of firing exercises.

Synonyms

gunner
vscannon cocker
46 6.1

A person who aims and fires weapons, often in the military or in contests

focuses specifically on the heavy field piece and its use rather than guns generally
cannoneer
vscannon cocker
1 9.6

A person in the army who operates a cannon

also applies to people who operate the weapon in reenactments or hobbies
artillerist
vscannon cocker
  • Archaic
1 8.9

A person who operates large military guns to support troops

is broader, including both formal service and hobby or reenactment operators
skilled gunner
vscannon cocker
6.5

A person who shoots very well, often in the army or competitions

covers operators regardless of their skill level including hobbyists

How Experienced

cannon cocker
  • Archaic
9.9
machine gunner
  • NSFW
3 4.8
gunner
46 6.1

Surface Forms

cannon cocker singular
cannon cockers plural

Morphology

cannon + cocker

The constituent 'cannon' is clear and English readily forms agentive meanings (person who does X) via compounds or -er forms, so a learner could plausibly infer 'person who operates a cannon'. However, 'cocker' is rare/ambiguous (and not a standard agentive for cannon), and the two-word collocation is uncommon, so the exact role and legitimacy of the term are not fully predictable without exposure.

Etymology

Cannon cocker may come from the verb 'to cock', which means to make a gun ready to fire. A cocker was the crew member who did this, so a cannon cocker is the person who makes the cannon ready to fire and so means 'a person who operates a cannon'.