entry
gun
/ɡʌn/Weapon that propels projectiles by explosive force
From Middle English, probably from Old Norse gun (Battle or a war engine).
from PIE *gwhen- "to strike, kill" (see bane ); for second, see Hilda . The identification of women with powerful...
from Old Norse gunnr "battle." The word also was perhaps influenced by or confirmed by (or possibly from) Old French...
from Old Norse Gunnhildr , a compound of gunnr and hildr , both meaning "war, battle." First element
from Middle English gunne, gonne, possibly
from Old Norse Gunnhildr , a compound of gunnr and hildr , both meaning "war, battle." First element
+1 more sourceWord Ancestry
from PIE *gwhen- "to strike, kill" (see bane ); for second, see Hilda . The identification of women with powerful...
from Old Norse gunnr "battle." The word also was perhaps influenced by or confirmed by (or possibly from) Old French...
from Old Norse Gunnhildr , a compound of gunnr and hildr , both meaning "war, battle." First element
from Middle English gunne, gonne, possibly
from Old Norse Gunnhildr , a compound of gunnr and hildr , both meaning "war, battle." First element
+1 more sourceIn medieval England, a cannon may have answered to the name of a woman. An Anglo-Latin inventory from Windsor Castle in 1330 mentions a massive weapon called Domina Gunilda—“Lady Gunilda”—and Middle English soon shortened the formidable lady into gunne. Her name came from Old Norse Gunnhildr, a double dose of “battle,” although some scholars think the word may have come directly from Old Norse gunnr, “battle,” or been influenced by Old French engin, “engine.” The weapon’s meaning expanded as technology changed: from stone-throwing cannon to muskets, rifles, pistols, and even the slang sense of a powerful athlete. So every time someone says “gun,” they may be echoing either a Norse warrior woman or an ancient word for battle—the linguistic equivalent of naming a battleship after someone’s aunt.
The Story
In medieval England, a cannon may have answered to the name of a woman. An Anglo-Latin inventory from Windsor Castle in 1330 mentions a massive weapon called Domina Gunilda—“Lady Gunilda”—and Middle English soon shortened the formidable lady into gunne. Her name came from Old Norse Gunnhildr, a double dose of “battle,” although some scholars think the word may have come directly from Old Norse gunnr, “battle,” or been influenced by Old French engin, “engine.” The weapon’s meaning expanded as technology changed: from stone-throwing cannon to muskets, rifles, pistols, and even the slang sense of a powerful athlete. So every time someone says “gun,” they may be echoing either a Norse warrior woman or an ancient word for battle—the linguistic equivalent of naming a battleship after someone’s aunt.
Modern Usage
A powerful, exciting, or fight-ending object or person, in informal usage.
Kin & Kindred
From 'gun'·Battle or a war engine; ultimate origin uncertain
Derived Terms
English words from this root
Sources
Free Dictionary
Urban Dictionary
Wikipedia
Wiktionary