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 ve el 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 me -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.]