long tom
Americannoun
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a towed 155 mm field cannon produced by the United States throughout World War II.
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a long, heavy cannon formerly carried by small naval vessels.
noun
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a long swivel cannon formerly used in naval warfare
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a long-range land gun
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an army slang name for cannon
Etymology
Origin of long tom
First recorded in 1825–35
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
With a long tom, two men will ordinarily handle about five or six cubic yards in ten hours.
From The Business of Mining A brief non-technical exposition of the principles involved in the profitable operation of mines by Hoskin, Arthur J.
A "long tom" is an inclined, narrow box set stationary with a constant stream of water entering at the upper end.
From The Business of Mining A brief non-technical exposition of the principles involved in the profitable operation of mines by Hoskin, Arthur J.
The Creole boy learns that he, too, can work with pick, pan, cradle, rocker, at the long tom, sluice, and in the tunnel drift.
From The Little Lady of Lagunitas A Franco-Californian Romance by Savage, Richard
Another plan used and a better and faster method, was to use what they called the long tom.
From A Trip to California in 1853 Recollections of a Gold Seeking Trip by Ox Train across the Plains and Mountains by an Old Illinois Pioneer by Bailey, Washington
There was plenty of ground called poor ground that had much gold in it but could not be profitably worked with the rocker and long tom.
From Death Valley in '49 by Manly, William Lewis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.