The Collaborative International Dictionary
Carronade \Car`ron*ade\, n. [From Carron, in Scotland where it was first made.] (Med.) A kind of short cannon, formerly in use, designed to throw a large projectile with small velocity, used for the purpose of breaking or smashing in, rather than piercing, the object aimed at, as the side of a ship. It has no trunnions, but is supported on its carriage by a bolt passing through a loop on its under side.
Wiktionary
n. (context nautical English) a very short carriage gun used to fire a heavy shot for a limited range
Wikipedia
A carronade is a short, smoothbore, cast iron cannon which was used by the Royal Navy and first produced by the Carron Company, an ironworks in Falkirk, Scotland, UK. It was used from the 1770s to the 1850s. Its main function was to serve as a powerful, short-range, anti-ship and anti-crew weapon. Carronades were initially considered very successful, but they eventually disappeared as rifled naval artillery changed the shape of the shell and led to fewer and fewer close-range engagements.
Usage examples of "carronade".
Its batteries consisted of eight thirty-two-pounders, three thirty-two-pound carronades, one ten-inch Columbiad and one thirty-two-pounder rifle.
The shriller bark of the eight-pounders and carronades the schooners carried ended the exercise, leaving only a fogbank of powder smoke drifting eastward as it dispersed.
I would like to shift two of the nine-pounders down to the gundeck and replace them with thirty-two-pound carronades on the quarterdeck.
He and certain other adventurers had purchased a vessel of some five hundred tons, which they proposed to convert into a pirate by cutting portholes for cannon, and running three or four carronades across her main deck.
He carried neither cannons nor carronades, and neither of his vessels was very well fitted for the purpose for which they were designed.
They look like peaceful merchantmen, with four carronades and a long gun aboard!
Upon the main deck were eight twelve pound carronade neatly covered with tarpaulin.
And here you are, Mary, and you also, Roddy, and good luck to the carronade which has sent me into so snug a harbour without fear of sailing orders.
An overheated quarterdeck carronade overset on its recoil, breaking its breechings, and Jack was too busy helping to check it as it plunged among a mess of hammocks blasted from the nettings and of blood to see what was happening forward until he heard-the crash as the Chesapeake's quarter came grinding against the Shannon's side, just amidships.
So one broadside, not including the carronades, would see 160 grapeshot being hurled at the Frenchman by sixteen guns.
Well, let's make a start then: we have to get six carronades ashore and six boat guns, along with powder, shot and provisions.
Against that was their advantage of surprise and the carronades, and probably the musketry.
Finally at midnight a weary Aitken came into Ramage's cabin and reported that all the carronades and boat guns had been landed, and with them shot, powder, rammers and sponges.
He had considered landing some 12-pounders from the Calypso and hauling them up to the castle, but had finally decided that the carronades would be sufficient.
Most of the carronades could be brought to bear on the boats, so if they bolted the Saracens would be suffering more casualties.