gunnery

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰen- Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰéntis Proto-Germanic *gunþiz Old Norse gunnr Proto-Indo-European *kelh₂-der. Proto-Indo-European *kelh₂tís Proto-Germanic *hildiz Old Norse hildr Old Norse Gunnhildrder. Middle English gunne English gun Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzijos Latin -āriusnom. Latin -ārius Old French -ier Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Old French -ie Old French -eriebor. Middle English -erie English -ery English gunnery From gun + -ery.

1. The science of guns and gunfire, including aspects of bullet flight and impact.

   “When I have learnt what progress has been made in modern gunnery— / When I know more of tactics than a novice in a nunnery,—”

2. The design and manufacture of guns, particularly those of a large caliber.

   “Originally, doubtless, that petty officer's function was the instruction of the men in the use of arms, sword, or cutlass. But very long ago, owing to the advance in gunnery, making hand-to-hand encounters less frequent, and giving to nitre and sulphur the preeminence over steel, that function ceased [...]”

3. The firing of guns.

   “Northward incessantly, the flickering gunnery rumbles, / Far off, like a dull rumour of some other war.”

   “The 12th march company telephoned claiming that someone in the office had heard that they were waiting to do some shooting practice at moveable targets and that they would only leave after gunnery practice under front conditions.”

4. A place where guns are tested, or where people are trained in their use.