Paixhan
/ˈpeɪksən/(also Paixhain) Naval Gunnery (now historical )
noun
1Attributive and in the genitive. Designating armaments devised by Paixhans and originally used by the French navy; specifically a system using large-calibre weapons to fire shells rather than shot.
2A weapon of this type.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in Daily Evening Transcript (Boston). From the name of Henri-Joseph Paixhans, French army officer, who devised various armaments.