gunsmithn.
/ˈɡʌnsmɪθ/, U.S. /ˈɡənˌsmɪθ/ 1. One whose occupation it is to make and repair small firearms.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > production and development of arms > armourer > [noun] > one who makes artillery or firearms
gunmaker1385
artillerc1453
gunner1463
gunsmith1588
pyrobolist1696
gun-worker1905
1588 in Compt. Bk. D. Wedderburne (1898) 82 (note) [William Low, gunsmith, son of James Low, smith, was entered in the Burgess Roll 30th Sept. 1588].
1647 L. Haward Charges Crown Revenue 21 Gun-smith: Fee, 6d. per diem.
1671 J. Dryden Evening's Love Pref. The employment of a Poet, is like that of a curious Gunsmith, or Watchmaker.
1782 Philos. Trans. 1781 (Royal Soc.) 71 230 Wogdon, one of the most famous gunsmiths in London.
1858 W. Greener Gunnery in 1858 229 (note) Barrel welders, borers, lock-filers, &c., are not technically gun-makers: the latter are those workmen who, having barrels, locks, wood for stock, &c., make them into a gun. It has been customary to say gunsmiths; but this appellation can be applied to the worker in iron only.
1861 Times 21 Aug. Gunsmiths making or repairing rifles.
2. slang. A thief.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > thief > [noun]
thief688
bribera1387
stealer1508
taker?a1513
goodfellow1566
snatcher1575
lift1591
liftera1592
larcin1596
Tartar1602
lime-twig1606
outparter1607
Tartarian1608
flick1610
puggard1611
gilt1620
nim1630
highwayman1652
cloyer1659
out-trader1660
Robin Goodfellow1680
birdlime1705
gyp1728
filch1775
kiddy1780
snaveller1781
larcenist1803
pincher1814
geach1821
wharf-rat1823
toucher1837
larcener1839
snammer1839
drummer1856
gun1857
forker1867
gunsmith1869
nabber1880
thiever1899
tea-leaf1903
gun moll1908
nicker1909
knocker-off1926
possum1945
scuffler1961
rip-off1969
1869 Temple Bar XXV. 213 He..returned to his old trade of ‘gunsmith’, gunning being the slang term for thieving.
Derivatives
ˈgunsmithery n. the trade of a gunsmith, the making of small arms; also, the place where the work of a gunsmith is carried on.
ΚΠ
1847 in J. Craig New Universal Dict.
1896 Westm. Gaz. 30 Jan. 2/1 The Government gun-smitheries.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
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