derringer

See also: Deringer, Derringer, and deringer

English

John Wilkes Booth's derringer

A modern double-barreled 2-shot derringer

Alternative forms

deringer, Deringer, Derringer

Etymology

Named after American gunsmith Henry Deringer Junior (1786–1868).

Pronunciation

(UK) IPA^(key): /ˈdɛɹɪndʒə(ɹ)/

Noun

derringer (plural derringers)

A type of very small, concealable pistol with one or two barrels, but without any loading system or magazine.
- 1887, H[enry] Rider Haggard, chapter IV, in Allan Quatermain‎^[1]:
  “Afraid? Oh no! they never interfere with me. […] And look here,” and diving her little hand into the bodice of her dress she produced a double-barrelled nickel-plated Derringer, “I always carry that loaded, and if anybody tried to touch me I should shoot him […] ”

Usage notes

The spelling and capitalisation of the word has varied since the pistols were first designed, with Deringer being the original usage. In the late 1850s, misspellings added another R to the name, Derringer, which remained capitalised. Lower case versions of both spellings were in use soon after. The fifth edition Webster's Collegiate Dictionary in 1937 lists the now common spelling of derringer.

References

Guns of the Old West, Charles Edward Chapel, 1961. Chapter VI.