gunning

An old term for shooting; it is now adopted by the Americans. After the wreck of the Wager, on hearing the pistols fired at Cozens, "it was rainy weather, and not fit for gunning, so that we could not imagine the meaning of it."

♦ Gunning a ship. Fitting her with ordnance.

♦ Gunning, in mining, is when the blast explodes and does not rend the mass.

♦ Gunning, signals enforced by guns.