canister

[ kan-uh-ster ]
/ ˈkæn ə stər /

noun

a small box or jar, often one of a kitchen set, for holding tea, coffee, flour, and sugar.
Also called canister shot. case shot.
the part of a gas mask containing the neutralizing substances through which poisoned air is filtered.

Origin of canister

1670–80; < Latin canistrum wicker basket < Greek kánastron, derivative of kánna reed (see cane), with -astron, variant of -tron suffix of instrument (probably from verbal derivatives, as stégastron covering, from stegázein to cover)

Example sentences from the Web for canister

British Dictionary definitions for canister

canister
/ (ˈkænɪstə) /

noun

a container, usually made of metal, in which dry food, such as tea or coffee, is stored
(formerly)
  1. a type of shrapnel shell for firing from a cannon
  2. Also called: canister shot, case shot the shot or shrapnel packed inside this

Word Origin for canister

C17: from Latin canistrum basket woven from reeds, from Greek kanastron, from kanna reed, cane 1