n.
- a weapon incorporating a metal tube from which bullets or shells are propelled by explosive force.
▸
N. Amer. a gunman:
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a hired gun.
- a device for discharging something (e.g. grease) in a required direction.
v.
(guns, gunning, gunned)
-
(gun someone down)
shoot someone with a gun.
-
(be gunning for)
be aggressively pursuing or acting against.
▸be striving for determinedly.
- informal cause (an engine) to race.
▸accelerate (a vehicle).
Phrase
- go great guns
informal proceed vigorously or successfully. - jump the gun
informal act before the appropriate time. - stick to one's guns
informal refuse to compromise or change, despite criticism. - top gun
informal the most important person in an organization or sphere. - under the gun
N. Amer. informal under great pressure.
Derivative
- gunless adj.
- -gunned adj.
Etymology
ME gunne, gonne, perh. from a familiar form of the Scand. name Gunnhildr, from gunnr + hildr, both meaning ‘war’.
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