WEAPON
ADJECTIVES
► BRIDE-WIDOWING of a weapon: that kills men, and hence makes widows of their wives → 1818 poetic usage obs. rare
► HOT of a weapons system: activated, armed → 1962 US sl.
► PACKING having weapons for sale → 2000s US prison sl.
► TOOLED UP carrying a weapon, esp. a gun; armed → 1959 sl.
NOUNS
► APRIL FOOLS weapons, such as handguns, knifes, etc. → 2002 UK rhyming sl. for ‘tools’
► AX ► AXE any sharp-edged weapon → 1950 US sl.
► BABY an item, a thing, esp. if large or formidable; often applied to weapons and motor vehicles → 1907 Amer. sl.
► BALL-BREAKER a weapon → 1970s sl., orig. US
► BATTERDASHER a weapon of offense → 1696 obs.
► BILLY a life-preserver (a short club with a heavy weighted end used as a weapon) → 1864 sl.
► BONDOOK a weapon → 1991 UK Gulf War usage
► BUSINESS END the point of a tool or weapon → 1999 (Bk.)
► CAN-OPENER a weapon powerful enough to destroy an armoured target → 1886 US military sl.
► CHIV a knife; a sharp-edged tool or weapon → 1914 criminals’ sl. (Bk.)
► COLT a life-preserver (a short club with a heavy weighted end used as a weapon) → 1864 sl.
► COSH a life-preserver (a short club with a heavy weighted end used as a weapon) → 1864 sl.
► DIRK a knife or improvised cutting weapon → 1950 US sl.
► EDGE a cutting weapon or tool → c1205 poetic usage
► EQUALIZER a range of weapons, esp. revolvers and clubs → 1899 sl. orig. US
► EVENER a weapon; a club, knife, or other aid a small man claims as an equalizer in a fight with a large opponent → 1949 Amer. dial.
► FURNITURE armour, accoutrements, weapons, munitions of war; also, a suit of armour → 1569 obs.
► GUT-RIPPER a knife used as a weapon → 1941 Amer. sl.
► HABILIMENTS munitions, appliances, implements, or apparatus of war; weapons, warlike stores, etc. (the ‘h’ in this sense was commonly omitted) → 1422 obs.
► HOOK a straight razor or knife used as a weapon → 1918 Amer. prison sl.
► I-WEPEN weapons, arms, equipment → c1275 obs.
► MAD MIKE a mad minute; an intense, short-lived burst of weapon fire → 1991 US sl.
► MAD MINUTE an intense, short-lived burst of weapon fire → 1917 US sl.
► MAHOSKA, THE ► MAHOSKER, THE anything illicit or necessarily secret; anything conferring power; a weapon or an item of contraband; a pistol or revolver; a knife → 1943 Amer. sl.
► MALKY a safety razor used as a weapon; hence, an improvised weapon, such as a broken bottle, etc. → 1973 Sc. sl.
► MANAGE the skilful handling of a weapon, etc. → c1611
► MANAGERY the art of managing weapons, instruments, etc. → 1654 obs.
► MAULER ► MAWLER brass knuckles → 1950s sl.
► MOLEY a gangland weapon of a potato with razor blades inserted into it → 1950 Brit. sl.
► MUNITION an item of military equipment; a weapon, esp. a missile → 1962
► NIGGER FLICKER a weapon, usually a small knife or a razor blade with one side heavily taped to preserve the user’s fingers → 1950s African-American sl., derogatory
► OUTFIT a weapon → 1973 UK criminals’ sl.
► PIG-STICKER a bayonet, knife, or other sharp weapon → 1890 sl.
► SIGNATURE the back-blast of flame or smoke from a weapon → 1990 US sl.
► SKENG a ghetto weapon, as a gun or a ratchet-knife → 1970s W. Indies & Black British sl.
► SKEWER a term of contempt for a sharp weapon → 1838
► TACKLE implements of war, weapons; esp. arrows; also, a weapon, an, arrow → c1375 obs.
► TACKLING arms, weapons, instruments → a1400 obs.
► TOOL a weapon, esp. a gun → 1938 criminals’ sl.
► UGLY GUN a semi-automatic weapon → 1990s US sl.
NOUNS – PERSON
► MANAGER the wielder of a weapon; the person who wages a war → 1588 obs.
VERBS
► PACK to carry a weapon, usually a gun or knife → L19 sl., orig. US
► RETUND to dull or blunt the edge of a weapon → L17 obs.
► SMITE to deliver a blow with a weapon → c1300
► VAMPISH to brandish a weapon threateningly → 1905 Ireland (Bk.)
► WAGE to wield a weapon, etc. → 1836
► WALD to manage, handle, manipulate a weapon; to brandish, to aim → 1790 Sc.
Lexicophilia 