From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Gun \Gun\ (g[u^]n), n. [OE. gonne, gunne; of uncertain origin;
cf. Ir., Gael., & LL. gunna, W. gum; possibly (like cannon)
fr. L. canna reed, tube; or abbreviated fr. OF. mangonnel, E.
mangonel, a machine for hurling stones.]
1. A weapon which throws or propels a missile to a distance;
any firearm or instrument for throwing projectiles,
consisting of a tube or barrel closed at one end, in which
the projectile is placed, with an explosive charge (such
as guncotton or gunpowder) behind, which is ignited by
various means. Pistols, rifles, carbines, muskets, and
fowling pieces are smaller guns, for hand use, and are
called {small arms}. Larger guns are called {cannon},
{ordnance}, {fieldpieces}, {carronades}, {howitzers}, etc.
See these terms in the Vocabulary.
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As swift as a pellet out of a gunne
When fire is in the powder runne. --Chaucer.
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The word gun was in use in England for an engine to
cast a thing from a man long before there was any
gunpowder found out. --Selden.
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2. (Mil.) A piece of heavy ordnance; in a restricted sense, a
cannon.
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3. pl. (Naut.) Violent blasts of wind.
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Note: 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}.
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{Armstrong gun}, a wrought iron breech-loading cannon named
after its English inventor, Sir William Armstrong.
{Big gun} or {Great gun}, a piece of heavy ordnance; hence
(Fig.), a person superior in any way; as, bring in the big
guns to tackle the problem.
{Gun barrel}, the barrel or tube of a gun.
{Gun carriage}, the carriage on which a gun is mounted or
moved.
{Gun cotton} (Chem.), a general name for a series of
explosive nitric ethers of cellulose, obtained by steeping
cotton in nitric and sulphuric acids. Although there are
formed substances containing nitric acid radicals, yet the
results exactly resemble ordinary cotton in appearance. It
burns without ash, with explosion if confined, but quietly
and harmlessly if free and open, and in small quantity.
Specifically, the lower nitrates of cellulose which are
insoluble in ether and alcohol in distinction from the
highest (pyroxylin) which is soluble. See {Pyroxylin}, and
cf. {Xyloidin}. The gun cottons are used for blasting and
somewhat in gunnery: for making celluloid when compounded
with camphor; and the soluble variety (pyroxylin) for
making collodion. See {Celluloid}, and {Collodion}. Gun
cotton is frequenty but improperly called
{nitrocellulose}. It is not a nitro compound, but an ester
of nitric acid.
{Gun deck}. See under {Deck}.
{Gun fire}, the time at which the morning or the evening gun
is fired.
{Gun metal}, a bronze, ordinarily composed of nine parts of
copper and one of tin, used for cannon, etc. The name is
also given to certain strong mixtures of cast iron.
{Gun port} (Naut.), an opening in a ship through which a
cannon's muzzle is run out for firing.
{Gun tackle} (Naut.), the blocks and pulleys affixed to the
side of a ship, by which a gun carriage is run to and from
the gun port.
{Gun tackle purchase} (Naut.), a tackle composed of two
single blocks and a fall. --Totten.
{Krupp gun}, a wrought steel breech-loading cannon, named
after its German inventor, Herr Krupp.
{Machine gun}, a breech-loading gun or a group of such guns,
mounted on a carriage or other holder, and having a
reservoir containing cartridges which are loaded into the
gun or guns and fired in rapid succession. In earlier
models, such as the {Gatling gun}, the cartridges were
loaded by machinery operated by turning a crank. In modern
versions the loading of cartidges is accomplished by
levers operated by the recoil of the explosion driving the
bullet, or by the pressure of gas within the barrel.
Several hundred shots can be fired in a minute by such
weapons, with accurate aim. The {Gatling gun}, {Gardner
gun}, {Hotchkiss gun}, and {Nordenfelt gun}, named for
their inventors, and the French {mitrailleuse}, are
machine guns.
{To blow great guns} (Naut.), to blow a gale. See {Gun}, n.,
3.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Small \Small\ (sm[add]l), a. [Compar. {Smaller}
(sm[add]l"[~e]r); superl. {Smallest}.] [OE. small, AS. smael;
akin to D. smal narrow, OS. & OHG. smal small, G. schmal
narrow, Dan. & Sw. smal, Goth. smals small, Icel. smali small
cattle, sheep, or goats; cf. Gr. mh^lon a sheep or goat.]
1. Having little size, compared with other things of the same
kind; little in quantity or degree; diminutive; not large
or extended in dimension; not great; not much;
inconsiderable; as, a small man; a small river.
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To compare
Great things with small. --Milton.
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2. Being of slight consequence; feeble in influence or
importance; unimportant; trivial; insignificant; as, a
small fault; a small business.
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3. Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; --
sometimes, in reproach, paltry; mean.
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A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of
interesting the greatest man. --Carlyle.
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4. Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short;
as, after a small space. --Shak.
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5. Weak; slender; fine; gentle; soft; not loud. "A still,
small voice." --1 Kings xix. 12.
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{Great and small},of all ranks or degrees; -- used especially
of persons. "His quests, great and small." --Chaucer.
{Small arms}, muskets, rifles, pistols, etc., in distinction
from cannon.
{Small beer}. See under {Beer}.
{Small coal}.
(a) Little coals of wood formerly used to light fires.
--Gay.
(b) Coal about the size of a hazelnut, separated from the
coarser parts by screening.
{Small craft} (Naut.), a vessel, or vessels in general, of a
small size.
{Small fruits}. See under {Fruit}.
{Small hand}, a certain size of paper. See under {Paper}.
{Small hours}. See under {Hour}.
{Small letter}. (Print.), a lower-case letter. See
{Lower-case}, and {Capital letter}, under {Capital}, a.
{Small piece}, a Scotch coin worth about 21/4d. sterling, or
about 41/2cents.
{Small register}. See the Note under 1st {Register}, 7.
{Small stuff} (Naut.), spun yarn, marline, and the smallest
kinds of rope. --R. H. Dana, Jr.
{Small talk}, light or trifling conversation; chitchat.
{Small wares} (Com.), various small textile articles, as
tapes, braid, tringe, and the like. --M`Culloch.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Arms \Arms\, n. pl. [OE. armes, F. arme, pl. armes, fr. L. arma,
pl., arms, orig. fittings, akin to armus shoulder, and E.
arm. See {Arm}, n.]
1. Instruments or weapons of offense or defense.
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He lays down his arms, but not his wiles. --Milton.
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Three horses and three goodly suits of arms.
--Tennyson.
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2. The deeds or exploits of war; military service or science.
"Arms and the man I sing." --Dryden.
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3. (Law) Anything which a man takes in his hand in anger, to
strike or assault another with; an aggressive weapon.
--Cowell. Blackstone.
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4. (Her.) The ensigns armorial of a family, consisting of
figures and colors borne in shields, banners, etc., as
marks of dignity and distinction, and descending from
father to son.
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5. (Falconry) The legs of a hawk from the thigh to the foot.
--Halliwell.
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{Bred to arms}, educated to the profession of a soldier.
{In arms}, armed for war; in a state of hostility.
{Small arms}, portable firearms known as muskets, rifles,
carbines, pistols, etc.
{A stand of arms}, a complete set for one soldier, as a
musket, bayonet, cartridge box and belt; frequently, the
musket and bayonet alone.
{To arms}! a summons to war or battle.
{Under arms}, armed and equipped and in readiness for battle,
or for a military parade.
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{Arm's end},
{Arm's length},
{Arm's reach}. See under {Arm}.
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