schietgeweer
Dutch edit
Etymology edit
Compound of schieten (“to shoot”) + geweer (“sidearm; gun”).
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
schietgeweer n (plural schietgeweren, diminutive schietgeweertje n)
Usage notes edit
- Until the early twentieth century this was a current, neutral term for a firearm, as geweer could be used for any type of sidearm. The primary meaning of geweer has since narrowed to guns, so this compound may strike speakers as pleonastic. As a result it is now associated with childish or humorous, ironic language.