Gun

Gun, gun, n. a firearm or weapon, from which balls or other projectiles are discharged, usually by means of gunpowder—now generally applied to cannon: one who carries a gun, a member of a shooting-party.—v.i. (Amer.) to shoot with a gun.—ns. Gun′-barr′el, the barrel or tube of a gun; Gun′boat, a boat or small vessel of light draught, fitted to carry one or more guns; Gun′-carr′iage, a carriage on which a gun or cannon is supported; Gun′-cott′on, an explosive prepared by saturating cotton with nitric acid; Gun′-fire (mil.), the hour at which the morning or evening gun is fired; Gun′-flint, a piece of flint fitted to the hammer of a flint-lock musket; Gun′-met′al, an alloy of copper and tin in the proportion of 9 to 1, used in making guns; Gun′nage, the number of guns carried by a ship of war; Gun′ner, one who works a gun or cannon: (naut.) a petty officer who has charge of the ordnance on board ship; Gun′nery, the art of managing guns, or the science of artillery; Gun′ning, shooting game; Gun′-port, a port-hole; Gun′powder, an explosive powder used for guns and firearms; Gun′-room, the apartment on board ship occupied by the gunner, or by the lieutenants as a mess-room; Gun′shot, the distance to which shot can be thrown from a gun.—adj. caused by the shot of a gun.—adj. Gun′-shy, frightened by guns (of a sporting dog).—ns. Gun′smith, a smith or workman who makes or repairs guns or small-arms; Gun′stick, a ramrod; Gun′stock, the stock or piece of wood on which the barrel of a gun is fixed; Gun′stone (Shak.), a stone, formerly used as shot for a gun; Gun′-tack′le (naut.), the tackle used on board ship by which the guns are run to and from the port-holes; Gun′-wad, a wad for a gun; Gat′ling-gun, a revolving battery-gun, invented by R. J. Gatling about 1861, usually having ten parallel barrels, capable of firing 1200 shots a minute; Machine′-gun (see Machine).—As sure as a gun, quite sure, certainly; Blow great guns, to blow tempestuously—of wind; Great gun, a cannon: (coll.) a person of great importance; Son of a gun, a rogue, rascal. [M. E. gonne, from W. gwn, a bowl, a gun, acc. to Skeat.]