stunner
(ˈstʌnə(r))
[f. stun v. + -er.]
1. Something that stuns or dazes; something that amazes or astounds.
| 1829 P. Egan Boxiana 2nd Ser. II. 417 The blow was a stunner, and visible on his forehead. 1847 C. Brontë J. Eyre xxxiii, Here was a new stunner—I had been calculating on four or five thousand. 1847 Ld. G. Bentinck Let. 30 June in Croker Papers (1884) III. 128, I have read your article in the Quarterly and think it quite admirable..a complete stunner for the Peel party. 1853 Surtees Sponge's Sp. Tour (1893) 55 One tacked on two miles, another ten, and so it went on and on, till it reached the ears of the great Mr. Seedeyman..as he sat in his den penning his ‘stunners’ for his market-day Mercury. 1872 ‘Aliph Cheem’ (Yeldham) Lays of Ind (1876) 56 He..ordered the gunners To fire off some stunners, That the glory of France might be properly told. |
2. colloq. A person or thing of extraordinary excellence or attractiveness.
| 1848 Alb. Smith Chr. Tadpole xxix. 263 Watch the girl, Sir Frederick. Isn't she a stunner? 1855 Thackeray Newcomes xlii, The cook..was really a stunner for tarts. 1893 Leland Mem. II. 278 He knew where to get one for a pound but {pstlg}2. 10s. would buy a ‘stunner’. |