blowgun
UK[ˈbləʊɡʌn]US[ˈbloʊɡʌn]
n
A long tube through which a dart or pellet is propelled by the force of the breath.
Morpheme Breakdown
blow
gun
blow
gun
Etymology
The word 'blowgun' is a transparent English compound, formed by combining the verb 'blow' with the noun 'gun'. 'Blow' originates from Old English blāwan, meaning "to move air, puff, inflate," which has Proto-Germanic roots. 'Gun' is a shortened form of the Scandinavian woman's name Gunnhildr, used in Middle English for a large siege engine (Mons Meg), later generalized to any firearm. The compound 'blowgun' logically describes the weapon's core mechanism: it is a 'gun' that operates by the user's 'blow', or breath, rather than by explosive force. This straightforward naming convention directly links the tool's function to its form.
Analysis
Structure: blow + gun
blow: Old English. Functional role: Verb root indicating the action of expelling air from the mouth.
gun: Middle English. Functional role: Noun root indicating a weapon or device for projecting missiles.
Examples
The indigenous hunter silently raised his blowgun to target a small monkey in the canopy.
Using a blowgun requires strong lung capacity and precise aim.
The museum displayed a collection of darts and poison-tipped projectiles used with blowguns.