Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Howitzer
How′itz-er
,Noun.
[G.
haubitze
, formerly hauffnitz
, Bohem. haufnice
, orig., a sling.] (Mil.)
(a)
A gun so short that the projectile, which was hollow, could be put in its place by hand; a kind of mortar.
[Obs.]
(b)
A short, light, largebore cannon, usually having a chamber of smaller diameter than the rest of the bore, and intended to throw large projectiles with comparatively small charges.