weapon
weapon
UK[ˈwɛpən]US[ˈwɛpən]
n
An object designed or used for inflicting bodily harm or physical damage.
Etymology
The word 'weapon' originates from the Old English wǣpen, which carried the core meaning of an instrument for combat. This term is shared with other Germanic languages, such as Old Frisian wēpin, Old Saxon wāpan, and Old Norse vápn, all pointing to a common Proto-Germanic ancestor wēpną. The ultimate Proto-Indo-European root is hypothesized to be wehp-, meaning "to weave" or "to wind," suggesting an early conceptual link between the crafting of a weapon and the act of plaiting or fashioning a tool. Over centuries, the meaning narrowed and solidified to its modern, abstract sense of any object designed specifically for causing harm or damage in conflict.
Analysis
The word is a simplex form. It is derived from Old English wǣpen, meaning "instrument of fighting, sword, weapon." Its functional role is as a complete lexical root.
Examples
The police officer checked that her weapon was securely holstered.
Education is often described as the most powerful weapon for changing the world.
The treaty aimed to limit the proliferation of nuclear weapons.