derringer
pronunciation
How to pronounce derringer in British English:
UK [ˈderindʒə]
How to pronounce derringer in American English:
US [ˈdɛrɪndʒɚ]
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- Noun:
- a pocket pistol of large caliber with a short barrel
Word Origin
- derringer (n.)
- 1850, for Henry Deringer (1786-1868), U.S. gunsmith who invented it in the 1840s; prevailing misspelled form is how his name appeared on the many counterfeits and imitations. "A small pistol with a large bore, very effective at short range" [OED].
Example
- 1. Lincoln was killed by a crackpot actor named john wilkes booth who used a small pocket pistol known as a " derringer " for the deed .
- 2. He was commissioned to murder an alleged communist spy but was so frightened that he emerged from behind a boulder to hand over his derringer pocket pistol to the man he was supposed to assassinate .