noun
centimeter (esp. of cannon caliber)
Abbreviation of センチメートル, used especially for measuring the caliber of cannons or similar large guns. Often written in katakana.
See also: センチ
この戦艦の主砲は36サンチ砲です。
The main gun of this battleship is a 36-centimeter cannon.
センチ is the more common abbreviation for centimeter in everyday contexts, while サンチ is a variant used in specialized fields like artillery.
Abbreviation of センチメートル, from French 'centimètre'. The reading サンチ is a variant of センチ.