Obs. [= Ger. kartaune, kartane, ad. It. and med.L. quartana, which, as well as the former Ger. transl. viertelsbüchse ‘quarter-gun,’ designated originally ‘a 25-pounder cannon in relation to the largest siege-pieces of 100 lbs.’ (Kluge). Also CARTOW, q.v.]
A kind of cannon, also called a quarter-cannon; recent writers identify it (app. through some error) with the cannon-royal. See also CARTOW, CURTALL.
1849. Jas. Grant, Mem. Kirkaldy Gr., xxviii. 335. These consisted of one cannon-royal or carthoun (a 48-pounder,) … two sakers, [etc.].
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Carthoun, the ancient cannon royal, carrying a 66 lb. ball.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., I. 446. Cannon royal or carthoun 48 pounds.
