1. a weapon incorporating a metal tube from which bullets, shells, or other missiles are propelled by explosive force, typically making a characteristic loud, sharp noise.
▪ a device for discharging something (e.g., insecticide, grease, or electrons) in a required direction: "a grease gun"
▪ a starting pistol used in track and field events.
▪ the firing of a piece of artillery as a salute or signal: "the boom of the one o'clock gun echoed across the river"
▪ a gunman: North American"a hired gun"
▪ used as a nickname for a ship's gunnery officer.nautical slang, dated
2. muscular arms; well-developed biceps muscles:informal"it's encouraging to note that Schwarzenegger wasn't born with massive guns"
verb
1. cause (an engine) to race: "as Neil gunned the engine the boat jumped forward"
▪ accelerate (a vehicle):"he gunned the car away from the curb"
Word OriginMiddle Englishgunne, gonne, perhaps from a pet form of the Scandinavian name Gunnhildr, from gunnr + hildr, both meaning ‘war’.