murdering piece

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Murderer \Mur"der*er\ (m[^u]r"d[~e]r*[~e]r), n.
   1. One guilty of murder; a person who, in possession of his
      reason, unlawfully kills a human being with premeditated
      malice.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A small cannon, formerly used for clearing a ship's decks
      of boarders; -- called also {murdering piece}. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]