English edit

Noun edit

gunpaper (usually uncountable, plural gunpapers)

  1. Alternative form of gun-paper
    • 1866, The Artizan - Volume 24, page 102:
      Mr. G. S. Melland, of Lime-street, London, who has distinguished himself among our makers of firearms, has brought out a gunpaper to supersede our old gunpowder.
    • 1870, The American Annual Cyclopedia and Register of Important Events:
      With improved revolvers of Mr. Millard six rounds were fired first with cartridges containing fifteen grains of gunpaper and a conical bullet, at fifteen yards' range, which gave as a result an average of 13-16 inch penetration into deal.
    • 1926, The Book of Popular Science - Volume 10, page 3240:
      In 1832, Braconnot transformed starch into a source of terrific power by treating it with nitric acid; six years afterwards, Pelouse and Dumas changed cotton and paper into guncotton and gunpaper by nitrating these substances.