Weap"on (?; 277), n. [OE. wepen, AS.
w&?;pen; akin to OS. w&?;pan, OFries. w&?;pin,
w&?;pen, D. wapen, G. waffe, OHG. waffan,
wāfan, Icel. vāpn, Dan. vaaben, Sw.
vapen, Goth. w&?;pna, pl.; of uncertain origin. Cf.
Wapentake.]
1. An instrument of offensive of defensive combat;
something to fight with; anything used, or designed to be used, in
destroying, defeating, or injuring an enemy, as a gun, a sword,
etc.
The weapons of our warfare are not
carnal.
2 Cor. x. 4.
They, astonished, all resistance lost,
All courage; down their idle weapons dropped.
Milton.
2. Fig.: The means or instrument with which one
contends against another; as, argument was his only weapon.
"Woman's weapons, water drops." Shak.
3. (Bot.) A thorn, prickle, or sting with
which many plants are furnished.
Concealed weapons. See under
Concealed. -- Weapon salve, a salve which
was supposed to cure a wound by being applied to the weapon that made
it. [Obs.] Boyle.
Weap"on (?; 277), n. [OE. wepen, AS.
w&?;pen; akin to OS. w&?;pan, OFries. w&?;pin,
w&?;pen, D. wapen, G. waffe, OHG. waffan,
wāfan, Icel. vāpn, Dan. vaaben, Sw.
vapen, Goth. w&?;pna, pl.; of uncertain origin. Cf.
Wapentake.]
1. An instrument of offensive of defensive combat;
something to fight with; anything used, or designed to be used, in
destroying, defeating, or injuring an enemy, as a gun, a sword,
etc.
The weapons of our warfare are not
carnal.
2 Cor. x. 4.
They, astonished, all resistance lost,
All courage; down their idle weapons dropped.
Milton.
2. Fig.: The means or instrument with which one
contends against another; as, argument was his only weapon.
"Woman's weapons, water drops." Shak.
3. (Bot.) A thorn, prickle, or sting with
which many plants are furnished.
Concealed weapons. See under
Concealed. -- Weapon salve, a salve which
was supposed to cure a wound by being applied to the weapon that made
it. [Obs.] Boyle.
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