small arms

Gun \Gun\ (g[u^]n), n. [OE. gonne, gunne; of uncertain origin;
   cf. Ir., Gael., & LL. gunna, W. gum; possibly (like cannon)
   fr. L. canna reed, tube; or abbreviated fr. OF. mangonnel, E.
   mangonel, a machine for hurling stones.]
   1. A weapon which throws or propels a missile to a distance;
      any firearm or instrument for throwing projectiles,
      consisting of a tube or barrel closed at one end, in which
      the projectile is placed, with an explosive charge (such
      as guncotton or gunpowder) behind, which is ignited by
      various means. Pistols, rifles, carbines, muskets, 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.
      [1913 Webster]

            As swift as a pellet out of a gunne
            When fire is in the powder runne.     --Chaucer.
      [1913 Webster]

            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.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Mil.) A piece of heavy ordnance; in a restricted sense, a
      cannon.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. pl. (Naut.) Violent blasts of wind.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: 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}.
         [1913 Webster]

   {Armstrong gun}, a wrought iron breech-loading cannon named
      after its English inventor, Sir William Armstrong.

   {Big gun} or {Great gun}, a piece of heavy ordnance; hence
      (Fig.), a person superior in any way; as, bring in the big
      guns to tackle the problem.

   {Gun barrel}, the barrel or tube of a gun.

   {Gun carriage}, the carriage on which a gun is mounted or
      moved.

   {Gun cotton} (Chem.), a general name for a series of
      explosive nitric ethers of cellulose, obtained by steeping
      cotton in nitric and sulphuric acids. Although there are
      formed substances containing nitric acid radicals, yet the
      results exactly resemble ordinary cotton in appearance. It
      burns without ash, with explosion if confined, but quietly
      and harmlessly if free and open, and in small quantity.
      Specifically, the lower nitrates of cellulose which are
      insoluble in ether and alcohol in distinction from the
      highest (pyroxylin) which is soluble. See {Pyroxylin}, and
      cf. {Xyloidin}. The gun cottons are used for blasting and
      somewhat in gunnery: for making celluloid when compounded
      with camphor; and the soluble variety (pyroxylin) for
      making collodion. See {Celluloid}, and {Collodion}. Gun
      cotton is frequenty but improperly called
      {nitrocellulose}. It is not a nitro compound, but an ester
      of nitric acid.

   {Gun deck}. See under {Deck}.

   {Gun fire}, the time at which the morning or the evening gun
      is fired.

   {Gun metal}, a bronze, ordinarily composed of nine parts of
      copper and one of tin, used for cannon, etc. The name is
      also given to certain strong mixtures of cast iron.

   {Gun port} (Naut.), an opening in a ship through which a
      cannon's muzzle is run out for firing.

   {Gun tackle} (Naut.), the blocks and pulleys affixed to the
      side of a ship, by which a gun carriage is run to and from
      the gun port.

   {Gun tackle purchase} (Naut.), a tackle composed of two
      single blocks and a fall. --Totten.

   {Krupp gun}, a wrought steel breech-loading cannon, named
      after its German inventor, Herr Krupp.

   {Machine gun}, a breech-loading gun or a group of such guns,
      mounted on a carriage or other holder, and having a
      reservoir containing cartridges which are loaded into the
      gun or guns and fired in rapid succession. In earlier
      models, such as the {Gatling gun}, the cartridges were
      loaded by machinery operated by turning a crank. In modern
      versions the loading of cartidges is accomplished by
      levers operated by the recoil of the explosion driving the
      bullet, or by the pressure of gas within the barrel.
      Several hundred shots can be fired in a minute by such
      weapons, with accurate aim. The {Gatling gun}, {Gardner
      gun}, {Hotchkiss gun}, and {Nordenfelt gun}, named for
      their inventors, and the French {mitrailleuse}, are
      machine guns.

   {To blow great guns} (Naut.), to blow a gale. See {Gun}, n.,
      3.
      [1913 Webster +PJC]
    

Small \Small\ (sm[add]l), a. [Compar. {Smaller}
   (sm[add]l"[~e]r); superl. {Smallest}.] [OE. small, AS. smael;
   akin to D. smal narrow, OS. & OHG. smal small, G. schmal
   narrow, Dan. & Sw. smal, Goth. smals small, Icel. smali small
   cattle, sheep, or goats; cf. Gr. mh^lon a sheep or goat.]
   1. Having little size, compared with other things of the same
      kind; little in quantity or degree; diminutive; not large
      or extended in dimension; not great; not much;
      inconsiderable; as, a small man; a small river.
      [1913 Webster]

            To compare
            Great things with small.              --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Being of slight consequence; feeble in influence or
      importance; unimportant; trivial; insignificant; as, a
      small fault; a small business.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; --
      sometimes, in reproach, paltry; mean.
      [1913 Webster]

            A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of
            interesting the greatest man.         --Carlyle.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short;
      as, after a small space. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. Weak; slender; fine; gentle; soft; not loud. "A still,
      small voice." --1 Kings xix. 12.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Great and small},of all ranks or degrees; -- used especially
      of persons. "His quests, great and small." --Chaucer.

   {Small arms}, muskets, rifles, pistols, etc., in distinction
      from cannon.

   {Small beer}. See under {Beer}.

   {Small coal}.
      (a) Little coals of wood formerly used to light fires.
          --Gay.
      (b) Coal about the size of a hazelnut, separated from the
          coarser parts by screening.

   {Small craft} (Naut.), a vessel, or vessels in general, of a
      small size.

   {Small fruits}. See under {Fruit}.

   {Small hand}, a certain size of paper. See under {Paper}.

   {Small hours}. See under {Hour}.

   {Small letter}. (Print.), a lower-case letter. See
      {Lower-case}, and {Capital letter}, under {Capital}, a.

   {Small piece}, a Scotch coin worth about 21/4d. sterling, or
      about 41/2cents.

   {Small register}. See the Note under 1st {Register}, 7.

   {Small stuff} (Naut.), spun yarn, marline, and the smallest
      kinds of rope. --R. H. Dana, Jr.

   {Small talk}, light or trifling conversation; chitchat.

   {Small wares} (Com.), various small textile articles, as
      tapes, braid, tringe, and the like. --M`Culloch.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Arms \Arms\, n. pl. [OE. armes, F. arme, pl. armes, fr. L. arma,
   pl., arms, orig. fittings, akin to armus shoulder, and E.
   arm. See {Arm}, n.]
   1. Instruments or weapons of offense or defense.
      [1913 Webster]

            He lays down his arms, but not his wiles. --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

            Three horses and three goodly suits of arms.
                                                  --Tennyson.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The deeds or exploits of war; military service or science.
      "Arms and the man I sing." --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Law) Anything which a man takes in his hand in anger, to
      strike or assault another with; an aggressive weapon.
      --Cowell. Blackstone.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. (Her.) The ensigns armorial of a family, consisting of
      figures and colors borne in shields, banners, etc., as
      marks of dignity and distinction, and descending from
      father to son.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. (Falconry) The legs of a hawk from the thigh to the foot.
      --Halliwell.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Bred to arms}, educated to the profession of a soldier.

   {In arms}, armed for war; in a state of hostility.

   {Small arms}, portable firearms known as muskets, rifles,
      carbines, pistols, etc.

   {A stand of arms}, a complete set for one soldier, as a
      musket, bayonet, cartridge box and belt; frequently, the
      musket and bayonet alone.

   {To arms}! a summons to war or battle.

   {Under arms}, armed and equipped and in readiness for battle,
      or for a military parade.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Arm's end},

   {Arm's length},

   {Arm's reach}. See under {Arm}.
      [1913 Webster]