heated shot or hot shot is round shot that is heated before firing from muzzle-loading cannons, for the purpose of setting fire to enemy warships, buildings, or equipment. the use of hot shot dates back centuries and only ceased when vessels armored with iron replaced wooden warships in the world's navies. it was a powerful weapon against wooden warships, where fire was always a hazard. its use was mainly confined to shore batteries and forts, due to the need for a special furnace to heat the shot, and their use from a ship was in fact against royal navy regulations because they were so dangerous, although the american ship uss "constitution" had a shot furnace installed for hot shot to be fired from her carronades. the french "romaine"-class frigates originally also featured the device, but they proved impractical, dangerous to the ships themselves, and were later discarded.