a ceremony in which seventeen gunshots are fired, which is performed to honor someone or show military, naval or official respect. The number of guns fired in such a salute increases with rankNnineteen guns are fired for the admiral of a fleet, and a twenty-one gun salute is the royal or presidential salute. —5th ACC Vol 2 Glossary (Final Approval 7/12/89), Webster's New World Dictionary, Second College Edition and Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea