American cannon got from vehicle when given order (5)
I believe the answer is:
carom
'american cannon' is the definition.
(American term for a billiards cannon)
'vehicle when given order' is the wordplay.
'vehicle' becomes 'car' (car is a kind of vehicle).
'when given' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'order' becomes 'om' (Order of Merit).
'car'+'om'='CAROM'
'got from' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for carom that I've seen before include "Glancing collision" , "billiard shot" , "Form of billiards with no pockets" , "Billiards shot" , "rebound" .)