I. ˈgən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English gonne, gunne, probably irregular from Gonnilda, Gunnilda, Gunilda, feminine proper name (sometimes applied to an engine of war), from Old Norse Gunnhildr, feminine proper name
1.
a. : a piece of ordnance on a carriage or other mounting for throwing projectiles by the force of some explosive (as gunpowder) usually with high muzzle velocity and with comparatively flat trajectory and consisting of a tube or barrel closed at one end where the projectile is placed in front of the explosive charge to be ignited : a piece of ordnance — distinguished from howitzer and mortar
b. : a portable firearm (as a rifle, shotgun, carbine, pistol) — compare small arm
c. : a device (as an air rifle or a set gun) resembling such a piece of ordnance or such a firearm in that it throws or drives a projectile
2.
a. : a discharge of a gun in a salute or as a signal
a salute of 21 guns
the evening gun
b. : something serving as a signal of this kind especially marking a beginning or ending of an enterprise
his speech was the opening gun of the campaign
3.
[probably by folk etymology from ganef ]
slang : thief
4.
a. : one who shoots a gun : hunter
b. : a professional killer
two loose guns … who turn buffalo hunters in the last days of the burning West — Whitney Balliett
5. : something suggesting a gun in shape or function: as
a. : a small hand pump for projecting oil, grease, or other lubricating material : grease gun
b. : an apparatus for forcibly spraying (as paint or caulking) or throwing on cement, concrete mixtures, or similar material
c.
(1) : air hammer
(2) : electric hammer
d. : dust gun
e. : flashgun
f. : tacker 1f
g. : a stapling device
h. : an electric soldering tool with pistol grip
i. : electron gun
6. : a throttle or throttle lever especially of an airplane engine
7. Australia : an expert sheepshearer
•
- jump the gun
- under the gun
II. verb
( gunned ; gunned ; gunning ; guns )
intransitive verb
1. : to hunt with a gun : go hunting
2. : to move or progress usually rapidly in a vehicle by gunning the motor
gunned into the road, following the fresh tracks — Nard Jones
transitive verb
1. : to equip with a gun
2.
a. : to fire upon
b. : shoot
he was … gunned down on the streets — Time
famous anarchist, was gunned to death — Alexander Dallin
c. : to hunt in
nonresidents who have gunned the Dakotas — Nash Buckingham
3. : to direct the fall of (a tree) in forestry
4.
a. : to open up the throttle of (an engine) usually rapidly so as to increase speed
b. : to increase the speed of (a motor-driven vehicle) markedly by opening the throttle or to drive by doing this
gunned the car up the steep grade
gun a motorboat
•
- gun for
III. noun
: a long heavy surfboard — called also big gun
•
- under the gun