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Glite Dictionary
watercannon

watercannon

5.4
A machine on a vehicle that shoots a strong water jet to break up crowds
  • noun
  • /ˈwɔːtərˌkænən/
translation icon : cañón de agua
  • A watercannon can deliver a powerful stream that quickly disperses a large crowd.

Examples

  • The police used a watercannon to break up the protest on the main street.

  • The police deployed a watercannon during the protest.

  • Activists criticized the use of watercannons against peaceful demonstrators.

  • Many cities use watercannons for crowd control.

  • The police used a watercannon to break up the protest on the main street.

  • Activists criticized the use of watercannons against peaceful demonstrators.

  • Many cities use watercannons for crowd control.

Synonyms

water cannon
vswatercannon
7 3.9

A machine that sprays high-pressure water to push away crowds

is a hose fixed on a vehicle rather than a general machine

How Powerful

watercannon
5.4
fire hose
6 2.3
garden hose
13 1.5
sprinkler
72 1.9

Surface Forms

watercannon singular
watercannons plural

Morphology

watercannon = water + cannon (transparent) = water + cannon

Meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'water' + 'cannon'—a cannon-like device that propels water.

Etymology

Watercannon is just water + cannon, and cannon means 'large gun', so imagine a big gun that fires water. That's why a watercannon is a powerful stream of water, often on a vehicle, used to push away a crowd.