Etymology * As an English, Scottish, and Irish surname, variant of Cannon. * As a French topographical surname, from placenames derived from canne (“reed, cane, tube”). * As a Chaldean/Chaldean Neo-Aramaic surname, variant of Kanon, Kanoun, from [script needed] (Kānūn), the Classical Syriac name of the ninth and tenth months of the Assyrian calendar, from ܟܢܘܢ ܒ.
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Christianity Alternative letter-case form of canon: a member of a chapter.
Etymology From Middle English canoun, from Old French canon and Old English canon, both from Latin canōn, from Ancient Greek κανών (kanṓn, “measuring rod, standard”), akin to κάννα (kánna, “reed”), from Semitic (compare Hebrew קָנֶה (qane, “reed”) and Arabic قَنَاة (qanāh, “reed”)). Doublet of qanun. See also cane, cannon, canyon, canal.
The trial must proceed according to the canons of law.
Or that the Everlasting had not fixed His canon 'gainst self-slaughter.c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
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A formally codified set of criteria deemed mandatory for a particular artistic style of figurative art.
the Canon of Polykleitos
Despite the many advances made by modern scholars towards a clearer comprehension of the theoretical basis of the Canon of Polykleitos, the results of these studies show an absence of any general agreement upon the practical application of that canon in works of art.1975, Richard Tobin, “The Canon of Polykleitos”, in American Journal of Archaeology, volume 79, number 4, →DOI, →JSTOR, retrieved 02 Oct 2020, pages 307–321:
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A group of literary works that are generally accepted as representing a field.
Russo had been working as a salesman, selling Great Books of the Western World, hawking the canon to the rubes.1992 February 2, Mitzel, “Clay Shaw, The Quean Network & That Kennedy Killing”, in Gay Community News, volume 19, number 28, page 12:
the durable canon of American short fiction2015, William Styron, “Irwin Shaw”, in My Generation: Collected Nonfiction, page 456:
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The works of a writer that have been accepted as authentic.
the entire Shakespearean canon
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A eucharistic prayer, particularly the Roman Canon.
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A religious law or body of law decreed by the church.
We must proceed according to canon law.
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A catalogue of saints acknowledged and canonized in the Roman Catholic Church.
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In monasteries, a book containing the rules of a religious order.
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A piece of music in which the same melody is played by different voices, but beginning at different times; a round.
Pachelbel’s Canon has become very popular.
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LawRoman A rent or stipend payable at some regular time, generally annual, e.g., canon frumentarius
The lessees of public lands had to pay a perpetual rent or "canon" at some periodical time.1919 January 23, Charles P. Sherman, “A Brief History of Imperial Roman Canon Law”, in California Law Review, volume 7, number 2, Berkeley, California: University of California, pages 96–97:
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LifestyleSlang The officially recognized continuity, events, characters, relationships, etc. of a work of fiction.
A spin-off book series revealed the aliens to be originally from Earth, but it's not canon.
Meanwhile, having learned the whereabouts of the Death Star's plans, the rebels send their best platypus agent to obtain them, in hopes of finding a weakness. And none of this is canon, so just relax.2014, Phineas and Ferb: Star Wars:
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Cooking, Food, LifestyleAlternative Alternative form of cannon (“rolled and filleted loin of meat”).
a canon of beef or lamb
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Media, Printing, PublishingDated A large size of type formerly used for printing the church canons, standardized as 48-point.
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The part of a bell by which it is suspended; the ear or shank of a bell.
Etymology From Middle English canoun, ultimately from Latin canonicus (either by shortening or back-formation from Old English canonic, or via Old Northern French canoine).
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A type of clergymember serving a cathedral or collegiate church.
The records show that in the early 960s the cathedral at Winchester was administered by a group of canons, every one of whom was married.1999, Robert Lacey, Danny Danziger, The Year 1000: What life was like at the turn of The First Millennium, London: Abacus, published 2000, page 169:
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A canon regular, a member of any of several Roman Catholic religious orders.