canister

Meaning

Noun

1. A cylindrical or rectangular container usually of lightweight metal, plastic, or laminated pasteboard used for holding a dry product (as tea, crackers, flour, matches).
2. Any of various cylindrical metal receptacles usually with a removable close-fitting top.
3. A special short-range antipersonnel projectile consisting of a casing of light metal, loaded with preformed submissiles such as flechettes or steel balls. The casing is designed to open just beyond the muzzle of the weapon, dispersing the submissiles.
4. A projectile component containing colored or screening smoke or riot control agent composition.
5. A component of canister-type protective masks containing a mechanical filter and chemical filling to filter, neutralize and/or absorb toxic chemical, biological and radiological agents.
6. Part of a windmill that connects the sails to the windshaft.
7. (archaic, slang) A person's head.

Verb

To pack into a canister.

Synonyms

can

bottle

caddy

tin

case shot

canister shot

cannister

metal container

pannier

pot

shrapnel

tea-caddy

tin can

vase

vessel

canister-shot

shrapnel shell

bbs

basket

🧺

protective mask filter

box

📦

cartridge

cylinder

grape

grapeshot

jar

🫙

Translations

barattolo

bidón

🥁

bote

⛵

Kanister

lata

bidon

lata

latta

κάνιστρο

vasilha

Gehäuse

Behälter

Gefäß

Futteral

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkænɪstɚ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: canustyr

In summary

From Middle English canustyr (“basket”), a borrowing from Latin canistrum. Doublet of canaster and knaster.
* (metal receptacle): Through influence of unrelated can.
* (projectile): Short for canister shot, so called for its casing.