CARTRIDGE, noun [a corruption of cartouch.] A case of pasteboard or parchment, holding the charge of powder or powder and balls, for a cannon, mortar, musket or pistol. The cartridges for small arms, prepared for battle, contain the powder and ball; those for cannon and mortars are made of paste-board, or tin. Cartridges, without balls, are called blank cartridges.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI