gun
A device for shooting projectiles or ditto a shooter, functioning through stored energy: a firearm, cannon, harpoon gun/spear gun, raygun, etc, not a bow and arrow, or slingshot.
Other meanings
A very portable, short firearm, for hand use, which fires bullets or projectiles, such as a handgun, revolver, pistol or Derringer.
A less portable, long firearm that fires bullets or projectiles; a rifle, either manual, automatic or semi-automatic; a flintlock, musket or shotgun.
Word history
From Middle English "gunne,gonne".
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “gun” on Wiktionary, by its contributors, published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.