Where does “cannon fodder” come from?
cannon fodder (English) comes from German Kanonenfutter, from German Kanone, from Italian cannone, from Italian canna, from Latin canna, from Ancient Greek κάννα, from Akkadian 𒄀, from Sumerian 𒄀 — reed; a certain unit of length.
cannon fodder (English): Military forces considered to be expendable;...
Definitions
- Military forces considered to be expendable;...
Ancestry of “cannon fodder”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | Kanonenfutter | cannon fodder |
| 2 | German | Kanone | cannon; gun |
| 3 | Italian | cannone | cannon; ace; large tube or pipe |
| 4 | Italian | canna | cane; barrel; rod |
| 5 | Latin | canna | A reed, cane; Anything made of reed or cane;... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | κάννα | giant reed; reed mat |
| 7 | Akkadian | 𒄀 | reed; a certain unit of length |
| 8 | Sumerian | 𒄀 | reed; a certain unit of length |