gun tackle (guntak"l)

1. pl. The purchases fixed to a gun-carriage, and used to run a gun in or out of a port-hole. Side tackles are on the side of the carriage, and are used to run the gun out. Train tackles are on the rear end of the carriage, and are used to run the gun in. 2. A tackle composed of a fall and two single blocks: called specifically a gun - tackle purchase. Gunter rig. See rig. Gunter's chain, line, quadrant, proportion, scale, etc. See the nouns. gun-wad (gun'wod), n. A wad for a gun; specifically, a circular wad, cut with an implement known as a wad-cutter out of pasteboard, cardboard, or felt, used as wadding to keep the ammunition in place either in a gun barrel or in a paper or metal shell. For shotguns the wads used over the shot are generally simple pieces of pasteboard; those placed over the powder are usually made of thick elastic felt, and have the edge all around treated with some substance which tends to keep the barrels from fouling. See wad.