canister

noun

1. a small box or jar, often one of a kitchen set, for holding tea, coffee, flour, and sugar.
2. Also called canister shot. case shot.
3. the part of a gas mask containing the neutralizing substances through which poisoned air is filtered.

noun

1. a container, usually made of metal, in which dry food, such as tea or coffee, is stored
2. (formerly)
   1. a type of shrapnel shell for firing from a cannon
   2. Also called: canister shot, case shotthe shot or shrapnel packed inside this

n.

late 15c., “basket,” from Latin canistrum “wicker basket” for bread, fruit, flowers, etc., from Greek kanystron “basket made from reed,” from kanna (see cane (n.)). It came to mean “metal receptacle” (1711) through influence of can (n.). As short for canister shot, it is attested from 1801, so called for its casing.