† ˈgunstone Obs.
[f. gun n. + stone n.]
1. A stone used for the shot of a cannon or gun; a cannon-ball; a bullet.
| 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) IV. 455 He was sleyne with a gunneston [L. ictu fundibali]. c 1440 Jacob's Well 267 Þe vyolence of a gunne or of an engyne-ston is qwenchyd, whan softe erthe or softe thyng is sett þer-ȝens. 1530 Palsgr. 680, I neuer sawe gonne stone skyppe on that facyon. Ibid. 739/2, I am stryken with a gonne stone, I am but deed. 1563–87 Foxe A. & M. (1596) 1948/2 Having at one siege no lesse then three thousand bullets and gunstones flying upon them. 1573 Tusser Husb. x. (1878) 20 Make gunstone and arrow shew who is within. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, i. ii. 282 This Mocke of his Hath turn'd his balles to Gun-stones. 1605 B. Jonson Volpone v. v, That I could shoote mine eies at him like gun-stones. 1681 W. Robertson Phraseol. Gen. (1693) 693 A Gun-stone or pellet. 1808 J. Barlow Columb. vii. 702 Shells rain before him..Crags, gunstones, balls o'erturn the tented ground. |
| Comb. 1578 Househ. Ord. (1790) 254 Guneston maker fee per diem..o. o. 8. 1647 Haward Crown Rev. 21 Gun-stone maker: Fee per diem, 12. d. |
2. Her. = pellet,
ogress. (
Cf. gun-shot 1 c.)
| 1486 Bk. St. Albans, Her. B iv b, Oglys be calde in armys gonestonys. 1688 R. Holme Armoury i. 61/1 He beareth Argent 3 Ogresses. These are also termed Pellets, and do resemble bullets for Guns, and are often termed Gun-stones, or Bullets. 1766 Porny Heraldry (1777) Dict., Pellets, the name given to the Black Roundlets, by English Heralds alone..these are also denominated in English by the apellations of Ogresses and Gunstones. 1847 Gloss. Her. 244. |