Meaning & use
tampions
Last updated
“tampions” is a form of “tampion”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nouncountabletechnical
Plugs or covers placed in the open ends of cannons or other gun barrels to keep out water, dirt, or rust.
Grammar: Usually used in the plural, but the singular 'tampion' exists: one tampion, two tampions.
Patterns
- tampions for something
The museum guide explained that tampions were used to protect the muzzles of the old cannons from rain and sea spray.
Sailors often carved tampions from wood and painted them with bright colors.
During restoration, the team removed the tampions to clean the inside of the barrels.
Word forms
| singular | tampion |
|---|
Common combinations
- wooden tampions
- The ship's carpenter made wooden tampions to fit each cannon.
- cannon tampions
- The display included cannon tampions from the 18th century.
- remove the tampions
- Before firing, the crew had to remove the tampions quickly.
- tampions for the guns
- They ordered new tampions for the guns to prevent rust.
Synonyms and how they differ
- plugs
- More general; plugs can block any opening, while tampions are specifically for gun barrels.
- stoppers
- Often used for bottles or containers; tampions are a type of stopper for cannons.
Word family
- tampion noun
- The singular form, meaning one such plug or cover.
Commonly confused: tampions or tampon?
tampions vs tampon
A tampon is a menstrual product; tampion is a plug for a gun. They sound similar but have very different meanings.
Practice
What is the main purpose of tampions on a cannon?
Choose one answer.
Tampions are plugs or covers that seal the open end of a cannon barrel to protect it from the weather and debris. They are not used for decoration, measurement, or aiming.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “tampions”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.