1687, via Du. houwitser (1663), Ger. Haubitze from Czech houfnice "a catapult," introduced to Ger. during the Hussite wars, 14c.

Dutch houwitser, ultimately from Czech houfnice ballista

Late 17th century. Via Dutch houwitser from, ultimately, Czech haufnice “catapult,” from hauf “heap” (of stones), of prehistoric Germanic origin.

Dutch houwitser, from German Haubitze, alteration of obsolete haufnitz, catapult, from Old Czech haufnice, probably from haufný, catapult that slung many stones at once : hauf, group, heap (from probably from Middle High German hfe, from Old High German hfo) + -ny, n. suff.

HOWITZER (derived, through an earlier form howitz, and the Ger, Haubitz, from the Bohemian houf nice = catapult, from which come also, through the Ital. obiza or obice, the French forms obus = shell and obusier = howitzer),

from Haubitze "howitzer": < Dutch houwitser, houvietser < German Haubitze < Middle High German haufnitz < Czech houfnice "catapult, slingshot, sling".