six-gun
UK[ˈsɪksˌɡʌn]US[ˈsɪksˌɡʌn]
n
A revolver with six chambers, especially one used in the American Old West.
Morpheme Breakdown
six
gun
six
number
gun
firearm
Etymology
The term 'six-gun' is a transparent compound from Modern English, directly combining the numeral 'six' with the noun 'gun'. It specifically denotes a type of revolver, a repeating firearm whose cylinder holds six cartridges, allowing for six shots before reloading. This design was iconic in the 19th-century American frontier, making the 'six-gun' a symbol of that era. The logic of the name is purely descriptive, referring directly to the weapon's capacity, in contrast to earlier single-shot pistols or other revolvers with different cylinder capacities.
Analysis
Structure: six (number) + gun (firearm)
- six: From Old English siex, sex, from Proto-Germanic sehs, meaning the number after five.
- gun: From Middle English gonne, a shortening of the feminine name Gunilda, applied to a specific war engine, later generalized to firearms.
Examples
The legendary sheriff was rarely seen without his trusty six-gun at his side.
In many Western films, the quick-draw duel with a six-gun is a classic scene.
He carefully loaded each chamber of the antique six-gun.