Cannon balls, sometimes referred to as "round shot," could also be described as projectiles, ammunition, shells, or balls. Other historical terms for these deadly spheres include grape shot, canister shot, and chain shot. Grape shot was a cluster of small, round balls that caused a flurry of damage upon impact. Canister shot was similar to grape shot, but was packed in a metal casing and released upon firing. Chain shot, on the other hand, was made up of two smaller balls connected by a chain, causing greater damage as it tore through its target. While these terms may not be commonly used today, they remind us of the powerful impact that cannon balls had on warfare in centuries past.