A small cylindrical container, typically made of plastic, used to store a roll of photographic film; (also, and in earliest use) a circular container, typically made of metal, used to store a reel of cinematographic film, a film can.
Origin
1930s.
Definition of film canister in US English:
film canister
noun
A small cylindrical container, typically made of plastic, used to store a roll of photographic film; (also, and in earliest use) a circular container, typically made of metal, used to store a reel of cinematographic film, a film can.