† ˈpot-ˌgun, ˈpotgun Obs.
Also 6 -gonne, -goon, 6–7 -gunne.
[f. pot n.1 + gun n.]
1. A short piece of ordnance with a large bore, a mortar; so called from its shape.
| 1549 Chaloner Erasm. on Folly H iv, Another striken through with a potgonne recouered. 1557 A. Jenkinson Voy. & Trav. (Hakl. Soc.) II. 360 They haue..a great many of morter pieces or potguns. 1599 Hakluyt Voy. II. i. 81 Then the enemies were warned by the Iewe that wrote letters to them.., that the sayd potgunnes did no harme. |
2. = pop-gun n. 1.
| 1560 Whitehorne Ord. Souldiours (1588) 30 b, One of those potgunnes of elder, that boyes vse to shoote paper and slowes in. 1611 Cotgr., Caloniere, a pot-gunne made of a Quill, or Elder sticke. 1660 M. R. Exact Acc. Receipts 3, I..wish I had been chang'd into an Elder-tree, to have been cut out into Pot-guns. 1729 Swift To Dr. Delany on Libels 14 When first in Print, you see him dread Each Pot-Gun levell'd at his Head. 1801 [see pop-gun 1]. |
b. Contemptuously or ludicrously applied to a pistol or similar fire-arm; cf. pop-gun n. 2.
| a 1553 Udall Royster D. iv. vii. (Arb.) 75 Once discharge my harquebouse And for my heartes ease, haue once more with my potgoon. a 1619 Fletcher, etc. Knt. Malta iv. iv, How! fright me with your pot-gun? 1659 Shirley Honoria & Mam. i. i, When all your liveries go a-feasting By water, with your gally-foist and pot-guns. |
3. fig. A loud talker, a mere boaster, a braggart; also, an unfounded report.
| 1623 Webster Duchess of Malfi iii. iii, I saw a Dutchman break his pate once For calling him pot-gun. c 1626 Dick of Devon. i. i. in Bullen O. Pl. II. 9, I heard such a report, But had no faith in't: a mere Potgun! 1693 Congreve Old Bach. iii. viii, That sign of a man there, that pot-gun charged with wind. |
4. attrib. and Comb.
| 1624 Ford Sun's Darling To Rdr., The First Season. Presents him in the Twilight of his age, Not pot-gun-proof. 1651 J. Jane Εικων ακλαστος 168 These are potgun preparations for a Civill war. 1691 New Discov. Old Intreague xvi, Their Pot-gun Volleys charge Her Royal Ear. |