hired gun
n 1: a professional killer who uses a gun [syn: {gunman},
{gunslinger}, {hired gun}, {gun}, {gun for hire},
{triggerman}, {hit man}, {hitman}, {torpedo}, {shooter}]
hired gun
n.
A contract programmer, as opposed to a full-time staff member. All the
connotations of this term suggested by innumerable spaghetti Westerns
are intentional.