Did you know.....

Pond, James Pond · April 30, 2016, 12:55 AM

.... that the origins of the word "gun" may have its roots in the name given for a castle defence ballista from Windsor Castle (about 30 miles West of London) from the 14 Century!! It carried the name Domina Gunilda. Other origins may be from the Norse.

Any other possible leads on the word's etymology?

**44 AMP** · April 30, 2016, 01:09 AM

James, look into the names of the early cannons. Among the Culverins, demi culverins, sakers, minions, wolves, drakes, bombards and others you might find some class called "gonnes" possibly less and greater gonnes, I no longer recall clearly.

I'm sure Wikipedia will have an answer, but am unsure how correct it will be.

Theohazard · April 30, 2016, 02:02 AM

According to Mirriam-Webster, the word "gun" is from the Middle English word "gonne" or "gunne", and the first use was in the 14th century.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gun

And according to the University of Michigan Middle English dictionary, the word is a shortened form of "Gunilda", a pet name given to a specific siege engine.

http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/m/mec/...id&id=MED19082

So it seems like both of you are correct, at least according to these sources.

**44 AMP** · April 30, 2016, 10:37 AM

The very earliest devices that we would call "cannons" today are found in a very few illustrated manuscripts or tapestries dating from the 1320s.

The first "gun" (personal arm) so far verified was dug up in the mid 1800s from a fortress that had been a "notorious robber stronghold" and had been sacked, and razed to the ground in 1399. That particular "gun" was stolen in the late 1800s and hasn't been seen since, according to my old copy of Small Arms of the World (Smith & Smith).

One thing to remember was in those times, technology both changed much, much more slowly than later eras, and was considered akin to wizardry, which was only a TINY degree removed from witchcraft and consorting with demons.

Which, in those days was punishable by death. (torture to produce a "confession" wasn't considered punishment

)

From the 1400s on, reports of cannon (of some type) increase, and around a century or so later, reports of personal arms begin to become more frequent.

As had been the practice, large siege engines often had individual names. When cannons began to replace mechanical engines the practice continued.

These guns were complete individuals. There were no standards. Each one had a different bore size, fired stone balls specifically made for that one gun, and even the powder was created on site, specially made for ONE gun. Each great bombard had its own powder crew as well as firing crew.

The mortality rate for these early gun crews was frighteningly high, as the guns had a very frequent tendency to burst. Probably why there is a patron saint for Artillerymen...

Skans · April 30, 2016, 12:00 PM

I have to wonder whether in the year 2616 people on this forum will be discussing the origins of the word "clip"?

Oh, wait, we don't have to wait that long....

AK103K · April 30, 2016, 12:41 PM

Quote:

It carried the name Domina Gunilda. Other origins may be from the Norse.

I dont know.......... sounds like youve been hanging out over at xvideos.com.

April 30, 2016, 12:55 AM	#1
Pond, James Pond Senior Member Join Date: July 12, 2011 Location: Top of the Baltic stack Posts: 6,079	Did you know..... .... that the origins of the word "gun" may have its roots in the name given for a castle defence ballista from Windsor Castle (about 30 miles West of London) from the 14 Century!! It carried the name Domina Gunilda. Other origins may be from the Norse. Any other possible leads on the word's etymology? __________________ When the right to effective self-defence is denied, that right to self-defence which remains is essentially symbolic. Freedom: Please enjoy responsibly.

April 30, 2016, 01:09 AM	#2
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,791	James, look into the names of the early cannons. Among the Culverins, demi culverins, sakers, minions, wolves, drakes, bombards and others you might find some class called "gonnes" possibly less and greater gonnes, I no longer recall clearly. I'm sure Wikipedia will have an answer, but am unsure how correct it will be. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

April 30, 2016, 02:02 AM	#3
Theohazard Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2012 Location: Western PA Posts: 3,829	According to Mirriam-Webster, the word "gun" is from the Middle English word "gonne" or "gunne", and the first use was in the 14th century. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gun And according to the University of Michigan Middle English dictionary, the word is a shortened form of "Gunilda", a pet name given to a specific siege engine. http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/m/mec/...id&id=MED19082 So it seems like both of you are correct, at least according to these sources. __________________ 0331: "Accuracy by volume."

April 30, 2016, 10:37 AM	#4
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,791	The very earliest devices that we would call "cannons" today are found in a very few illustrated manuscripts or tapestries dating from the 1320s. The first "gun" (personal arm) so far verified was dug up in the mid 1800s from a fortress that had been a "notorious robber stronghold" and had been sacked, and razed to the ground in 1399. That particular "gun" was stolen in the late 1800s and hasn't been seen since, according to my old copy of Small Arms of the World (Smith & Smith). One thing to remember was in those times, technology both changed much, much more slowly than later eras, and was considered akin to wizardry, which was only a TINY degree removed from witchcraft and consorting with demons. Which, in those days was punishable by death. (torture to produce a "confession" wasn't considered punishment ) From the 1400s on, reports of cannon (of some type) increase, and around a century or so later, reports of personal arms begin to become more frequent. As had been the practice, large siege engines often had individual names. When cannons began to replace mechanical engines the practice continued. These guns were complete individuals. There were no standards. Each one had a different bore size, fired stone balls specifically made for that one gun, and even the powder was created on site, specially made for ONE gun. Each great bombard had its own powder crew as well as firing crew. The mortality rate for these early gun crews was frighteningly high, as the guns had a very frequent tendency to burst. Probably why there is a patron saint for Artillerymen... __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

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April 30, 2016, 12:00 PM	#5
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	I have to wonder whether in the year 2616 people on this forum will be discussing the origins of the word "clip"? Oh, wait, we don't have to wait that long....