derringer
English
John Wilkes Booth's derringer
A modern double-barreled 2-shot derringer
Etymology
Named after American gunsmith Henry Deringer Junior (1786–1868).
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈdɛɹɪndʒə(ɹ)/
Noun
derringer (plural derringers)
- A type of very small, concealable pistol with one or two barrels, but without any loading system or magazine.
- 1887, H[enry] Rider Haggard, chapter IV, in Allan Quatermain:
- “Afraid? Oh no! they never interfere with me. […] And look here,” and diving her little hand into the bodice of her dress she produced a double-barrelled nickel-plated Derringer, “I always carry that loaded, and if anybody tried to touch me I should shoot him […] ”
Usage notes
The spelling and capitalisation of the word has varied since the pistols were first designed, with Deringer being the original usage. In the late 1850s, misspellings added another R to the name, Derringer, which remained capitalised. Lower case versions of both spellings were in use soon after. The fifth edition Webster's Collegiate Dictionary in 1937 lists the now common spelling of derringer.
References
- Guns of the Old West, Charles Edward Chapel, 1961. Chapter VI.
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