# gun

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɡʌn/ · frequency rank #1,168

## Definitions
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. A device operated by a trigger and acting in a manner similar to a firearm.
8. A device operated by a trigger and acting in a manner similar to a firearm.
9. A device operated by a trigger and acting in a manner similar to a firearm.
10. A long surfboard designed for surfing big waves (not the same as a longboard, a gun has a pointed nose and is generally a little narrower).
11. A pattern that "fires" out other patterns.
12. A person who carries or uses a gun (rifle, shotgun or handgun), particularly with reference to how quickly the person can draw and fire the gun.
13. An electron gun.
14. The biceps.
15. Violent blasts of wind.
16. Someone excellent, surpassingly wonderful, skilful, or cool.

## Etymology
From Middle English gunne, gonne, possibly from Gunnhild, a female given name formerly used as a nickname for engines of war (compare Nordic Gunn, a female name meaning “battle”). The name is composed of the Norse elements gunnr and hildr, both meaning "battle".

## Easily confused with
- **guy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gun-vs-guy)
- **gym** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gun-vs-gym)
- **gut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gun-vs-gut)
- **Gus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gun-vs-gus)
- **Guo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gun-vs-guo)
- **GYN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gun-vs-gyn)
- **guys** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gun-vs-guys)
- **guns** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gun-vs-guns)
- **guru** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gun-vs-guru)
- **guts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gun-vs-guts)
- **Gwen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gun-vs-gwen)
- **Gunn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gun-vs-gunn)
- **gust** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gun-vs-gust)
- **gush** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gun-vs-gush)
- **gurl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gun-vs-gurl)
- **Gwyn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gun-vs-gwyn)
- **gunna** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gun-vs-gunna)
- **g** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/g-vs-gun)
- **go** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/go-vs-gun)
- **GM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gm-vs-gun)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/gun