howitzer
C2Technical, Military, Historical
Definition
Meaning
A short-barrelled, relatively low-velocity artillery piece, designed for high-angle fire with steep trajectories, often used against targets behind cover.
In modern military usage, it refers to a versatile towed or self-propelled gun capable of both direct and indirect fire. Metaphorically, it can refer to something that delivers a powerful impact, though this is rare.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A specific type of artillery distinguished by its relatively short barrel length and high-trajectory fire. It is not a synonym for all artillery or cannons.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is standard in the military jargon of both nations.
Connotations
Neutral technical term. May evoke historical (e.g., World Wars) or modern military contexts.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in general discourse but standard in military/defence contexts in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[The artillery unit] deployed/positioned/fired the howitzer.The howitzer [fired/shelled/bombarded] the enemy position.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms. Rare metaphorical use: 'He unleashed a verbal howitzer during the debate.'”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, military studies, and engineering contexts.
Everyday
Extremely rare; only in discussions of history, news about warfare, or video games.
Technical
Standard term in military doctrine, artillery manuals, and defence procurement.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The unit was howitzering the ridge all morning.
American English
- The battalion howitzered the suspected enemy compound.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form.
American English
- No standard adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- The howitzer barrage was devastating.
- They adopted a new howitzer system.
American English
- The howitzer fire was continuous.
- A howitzer round landed nearby.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Soldiers used a big gun called a howitzer.
- In the museum, we saw an old howitzer from the war.
- The artillery regiment deployed several 155mm howitzers to support the advance.
- The self-propelled howitzer's advanced fire-control system allows for rapid, accurate counter-battery fire.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'HOW IT ZERoes in on a target from a high angle.' The word starts with HOW, like asking *how* to hit something over a hill.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOURCE-PATH-GOAL (the shell's trajectory); POWER IS FORCE/IMPACT (though not a primary metaphor for this word).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'гаубица' (gauvitsa) – this is the correct direct translation.
- Do not translate as 'пушка' (pushka – cannon/gun) which implies a longer barrel and flatter trajectory.
- Do not translate as 'миномёт' (minomyot – mortar), which is a distinct, simpler weapon.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'howizer', 'howerizer'.
- Mispronunciation: /ˈhaʊ.wɪt.sər/ (adding a 'w' sound).
- Using it as a general term for any large gun or cannon.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary distinguishing feature of a howitzer?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It comes from the early 17th century, from Dutch 'houwitser', from Czech 'houfnice', a catapult, from 'houf' meaning 'crowd' (referring to its use against groups of soldiers).
No. While both have high trajectories, mortars have a much higher angle (usually over 45 degrees), are simpler, have a shorter range, and fire shells dropped down the barrel. Howitzers are more complex, have longer barrels, and can fire at various angles.
Yes, modern howitzers are capable of direct fire (shooting straight at a visible target) in a defensive role, though their primary design is for indirect fire.
No. It is a specialised military term. Most people will encounter it only in historical accounts, news about conflicts, or military-themed entertainment.