Gun

Source : Century Dictionary web : http://triggs.djvu.org/century-dictionary.com/splash3.html

GUN, sb. and v. Var. dial. and colloq. uses in Sc. Irel. and Eng. [gun, gɐn.] 1. sb. In Comp. (1) Gun-bow, a cross-bow; (2) Gun-stane, a flint for a firelock or pistol; (3) Gun-stick, a ramrod. (1) w.Som.1 These are very common playthings for boys, but are never called cross-bows. (2) Sc. (Jam.) (3) n.Lin.1 As strīght as a gunstick. 2. Phr. to be like the man's gun, that wanted a new lock, stock, and barrel, some repairs, and a ramrod, to be utterly worn out. N.I.1 3. Obsol. A broadcast turnip-sower. Shr.1 It is a hollow tin cylinder about ten feet long, divided into compartments, each of which has apertures furnished with slides to open or close at pleasure ─ the upper one is for admitting the seed, the lower one for letting it out. The slide by which the seed is distributed is perforated with holes of various sizes for the purpose of regulating the quantity of seed to be sown. The gun is held by two handles, and the man who uses it carries it before him in a horizontal position, shaking it as he goes along. 4. A tobacco-pipe. Lnk. For I claw oot my coggie an' licht my auld gun, Penman Echoes (1878) 50. Gall. We each filled our ‘gun’ with the best Glasgow spun [tobacco], Kerr Maggie o' the Moss (1891) 93; [She] rakes down the coals, and lights her gifn, Nicholson Poet. Wks. (1814) 67, ed. 1897. n.Cy. Occasionally heard (J.W.). 5. A drinking-vessel; a flagon of ale. Ir. Farmer. n.Cy. Bailey (1721); Grose (1790); N.Cy.2 A great flagon of ale, sold for threepence or fourpence. Chs. The Ringers' Orders (in belfry at Bowdon Church, Cheshire): ‘And he that rings and does disturbe ye Peal, Must pay his sixpence or a Gun of ale,’ Chs. Lan. Hist. Coll. (1853) I. 72, 132. Dev. Horae Subsecivae (1777) 193. Slang. A vessel called a gun, used for ale in the universities, Grose Lex. Balatronicum (1811). [‘A gun of ale,’ a large deep pot or flaggon (K.).] 6. A Winchester bushel; see below. Cor. Salt used to be sixpence per Winchester bushel, which weighs 84lb. and is called a gun, Marshall Review (1847) V. 540. 7. v. To examine carefully. See Gunny, v. Sus. ‘Well,’ sed de doctor, a gunnin ur over through his spectacles, Jackson Southward Ho (1894) I. 200; Sus.1 When I gunned her over a little closer, I soon saw that she was too gumptious by half to be a lady. 8. To interchange talk, speak briskly. Cf. gunner, v. Abd. The auld folk... gunn'd awa' auld farren cracks, Beattie Parings (1801) II, ed. 1873.

GUN, v.1 Pem. To watch, spy. 'A was gunnin' at me through the hedge all the time (J.S.O.T.).

GUN, v.2 Abd. See below. Farmers in blasting the rock or boulders in their fields speak of the charge that goes off without splitting the stone as ‘gunning.’ ‘Three o' the charges gunned on me; I'll uphaud this ane winna gun’ (G.W.).