Cannister is a container typically made of metal, plastic, or glass, used for storing food, liquids, and other items. The term can also be used to refer to a cylindrical container with a lid, often used for storing dry goods such as flour, sugar, and coffee. In the crossword puzzle, the solution for the term 'cannister' was 'TIN, ' which is a lightweight, malleable metal that is often used to make cans and other containers.