Chapter Canaille to Cannon of C by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Canker The briar or dog-rose.

“Put down Richard, that sweet lovely rose,
And plant this thorn, this canker, Bolingbroke.”
Shakespeare: 1 Henry IV., i. 3.

Cannæ The place where Hannibal defeated the Romans under L. Æmilius Paulus. Any fatal battle that is the turning point of a great general's prosperity is called his Cannæ. Thus, we say, “Moscow was the Cannæ of Napoleon Bonaparte.”

Cannel Coal A corruption of candle coal, so called from the bright flame, unmixed with smoke, which it yields in combustion.

Cannibal A word applied to those who eat human flesh. The usual derivation is Caribbee, corrupted into Canibbee, supposed to be man-eaters. Some of the tribes of these islands have no r.

“The natives live in great fear of the canibals (i.e. Caribals, or people of Cariba).”- Columbus.

Cannon (in billiards). A corruption of carrom, which is short for carambole. A cannon is when the player's ball strikes the adversary's ball in such a way as to glance off and strike a second ball.