Synonyms for guns

Grammar : Noun

Spell : guhn

Phonetic Transcription : gʌn

Top 10 synonyms for guns

Other synonyms for the word guns

Définition of guns

Origin : mid-14c., gunne "an engine of war that throws rocks, arrows or other missiles," probably a shortening of woman's name Gunilda, found in Middle English gonnilde "cannon" and in an Anglo-Latin reference to a specific gun from a 1330 munitions inventory of Windsor Castle ("...una magna balista de cornu quae Domina Gunilda ..."), from Old Norse Gunnhildr, woman's name, from gunnr + hildr, both meaning "war, battle." First element from PIE *gwhen- "to strike, kill" (see bane); for second, cf. Hilda.
The identification of women with powerful weapons is common historically (cf. Big Bertha, Brown Bess, Mons Meg, etc.); meaning shifted with technology, from cannons to firearms as they developed 15c. Great guns (cannon, etc.) distinguished from small guns (such as muskets) from c.1400. Applied to pistols and revolvers after 1744. Meaning "thief, rascal" is from 1858. Son of a gun is originally nautical. To jump the gun (1912, American English) is from track and field. Guns "a woman's breasts" (especially if prominent) attested by 2006.

noun weapon that shoots

Example sentences :

He turned his eyes and looked down the guns of the two men who had halted.
Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand

The belt and the guns were tossed onto the bed, and Hal Dozier sat down.
Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand

If half what they say is true, you're a handy lad with the guns.
Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand

This signifies more than the stilling of guns, easing the sorrow of war.
Extract from : « United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches » by Various

His guns, dogs, and horses, were the things the squire held most dear.
Extract from : « Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327 » by Various

And it ain't no braggin' to say I'm a handier gent with my guns than any of you.
Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand

If he exposed himself, would not the three of them pull their guns?
Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand

By this time the other men had got their guns and begun shooting.
Extract from : « The Trail Book » by Mary Austin

They carry sticks on which to rest the guns, and their horses are trained to stand still.
Extract from : « The Trail Book » by Mary Austin

Lieutenant Wynter brought these back, as an escort to the guns.
Extract from : « The Story of the Malakand Field Force » by Sir Winston S. Churchill

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019