| gun | 1. A weapon which throws or propels a missile to a distance; any firearm or instrument for throwing projectiles by the explosion of gunpowder, consisting of a tube or barrel closed at one end, in which the projectile is placed, with an explosive charge behind, which is ignited by various means. Muskets, rifles, carbines, 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. "As swift as a pellet out of a gunne When fire is in the powder runne." (Chaucer) "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) 2. A piece of heavy ordnance; in a restricted sense, a cannon. 3. Violent blasts of wind. 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. Armstrong gun, a wrought iron breech-loading cannon named after its English inventor, Sir William Armstrong. Great gun, a piece of heavy ordnance; hence (Fig), a person superior in any way. Gun barrel, the barrel or tube of a gun. Gun carriage, the carriage on which a gun is mounted or moved. <medicine> Gun cotton, to blow a gale. See Gun. Origin: OE. Gonne, gunne; of uncertain origin; cf. Ir, Gael) A LL. Gunna, W. Gum; possibly (like cannon) fr. L. Canna reed, tube; or abbreviated fr. OF. Mangonnel, E. Mangonel, a machine for hurling stones. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| gunboat | <astronomy> A vessel of light draught, carrying one or more guns. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| gunjah | <botany> See Ganja. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Gunn phenomenon | <syndrome> An increase in the width of the eye lids during chewing, sometimes with a rhythmic elevation of the upper lid when the mouth is open and ptosis when the mouth is closed. Synonym: Gunn phenomenon, Gunn's syndrome, jaw-winking phenomenon, jaw-working reflex, Marcus Gunn phenomenon, Marcus Gunn syndrome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Gunn pupil | Relative afferent pupillary defect. Synonym: Gunn pupil. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Gunn's crossing sign | <clinical sign> Retinal arteriovenous crossing with venous compression in hypertensive disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Gunn's dots | Minute, highly glistening, white or yellowish specks usually seen in the posterior part of the fundus; nonpathologic. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Gunn's sign | <clinical sign> Compression of the underlying vein at arteriovenous crossings seen ophthalmoscopically in arteriolar sclerosis, on alternate stimulation with light, the pupil of an eye with optic nerve transmission defect constricts poorly or even dilates when stimulated (a relative afferent pupillary defect). Synonym: Marcus Gunn's sign. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Gunn's syndrome | <syndrome> An increase in the width of the eye lids during chewing, sometimes with a rhythmic elevation of the upper lid when the mouth is open and ptosis when the mouth is closed. Synonym: Gunn phenomenon, Gunn's syndrome, jaw-winking phenomenon, jaw-working reflex, Marcus Gunn phenomenon, Marcus Gunn syndrome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Gunn, Robert Marcus | <person> British ophthalmologist, 1850-1909. See: Gunn phenomenon, Gunn's dots, Gunn's sign, Gunn's syndrome, Marcus Gunn pupil. (05 Mar 2000) |
| gunnel | 1. A gunwale. 2. <zoology> A small, eel-shaped, marine fish of the genus Muraenoides; especially, M. Gunnellus of Europe and America. Synonym: gunnel fish, butterfish, rock eel. See: Gunwale. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| gunner | 1. One who works a gun, whether on land or sea; a cannoneer. 2. A warrant officer in the navy having charge of the ordnance on a vessel. 3. <zoology> The great northern diver or loon. See Loon. The sea bream. Gunner's daughter, the gun to which men or boys were lashed for punishment. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| gunnie | <chemical> Space left by the removal of ore. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Gunning splint | A prosthesis fabricated from models of endentulous maxillary and mandibular arches in order to aid in reduction and fixation of a fracture. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Gunning's reaction | The formation of iodoform from acetone by iodine and ammonia in alcohol. (05 Mar 2000) |
| balling gun | Balling iron An instrument used for administering boluses or capsules to animals. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| Gatling gun | An American machine gun, consisting of a cluster of barrels which, being revolved by a crank, are automatically loaded and fired. The improved Gatling gun can be fired at the rate of 1,200 shots per minute. Origin: From the inventor, R.J. Gatling. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| soluble gun cotton | <chemistry> A substance resembling gun cotton in composition and properties, but distinct in that it is more highly nitrified and is soluble in alcohol, ether, etc. Synonym: pyroxyle. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| electron gun | <apparatus> A cathode/anode device intended to produce a stream of electrons. Also used inside a video camera tube and monitor picture tube that contains a heated cathode. Electrons emitted by the gun are focused to produce the scanning beam. (05 Aug 1998) |