Cartridge—a bag or case holding a complete powder charge for the cannon, and in some instances also containing the projectile.
Casemate carriage—as used here, a traverse carriage in a fort gunroom (casemate). The gun fired through an embrasure or loophole in the wall of the room.
Chamber—the part of the bore which holds the propelling charge, especially when of different diameter than the rest of the bore; in chambered muzzle-loaders, the chamber diameter was smaller than that of the bore.
Elevation—the angle between the axis of a piece and the horizontal plane.
Fuze—a device to ignite the charge of a shell or other projectile.
Grommet—a rope ring used as a wad to hold a cannonball in place in the bore.
Gun—any firearm; in the limited sense, a long cannon with high muzzle velocity and flat trajectory.
Howitzer—a short cannon, intermediate between the gun and mortar.
Lay—to aim a gun.
Limber—a two-wheeled vehicle to which the gun trail is attached for transport.