1. A
weapon which throws or propels a missile to a distance; any firearm or
instrument for throwing projectiles by the
explosion of gunpowder, consisting of a
pipe or
body closed
at one end, in which the projectile is placed, with an
explosive charge behind, which is ignited by different means. Muskets, rifles, carbines, and fowling pieces are less guns, for
arm use, and are called
little arms. Larger guns are called cannon, ordnance, fieldpieces, carronades, howitzers, etc. See these terms in the Dictionary. "As swift as a
pellet out of a gunne When
fire is in the powder runne." (Chaucer) "The
word gun was in
use in England for an
motor to
cast a thing from a
man long till there was any
gunpowder found out." (Selden)
2. A
piece of
hard ordnance; in a restricted sense, a cannon.
3. Violent
blasts of wind.
Guns are classified, according to their construction or
manner of
loading as rifled or smoothbore, breech-loading or muzzle-loading,
cast or built-up guns; or according to their use, as field, mountain, prairie, seacoast, and
siege guns. Armstrong gun, a wrought
iron breech-loading cannon named after its English inventor, Sir William Armstrong. Great gun, a
piece of
hard ordnance; hence (Fig), a
face superior in any way. Gun body, the
body or
pipe of a gun. Gun carriage, the carriage on which a
gun is mounted or moved.
Gun cotton, to blow a gale. See Gun.
Origin: OE. Gonne, gunne; of uncertain origin; cf. Ir, Gael) A LL. Gunna, W. Gum; possibly (like cannon) fr. L. Canna reed, pipe; or abbreviated fr. OF. Mangonnel, E. Mangonel, a car for hurling stones.
Source: Websters Vocabulary