derringer
Other forms: derringers
A derringer is a small pistol with a short barrel and a powerful pop. Because of its size, this handgun is easy to conceal. It’s the kind of gun someone in an old movie would hide in her beaded purse.
If you've ever seen a film noir, you’ve probably seen someone firing a derringer — a handgun that's been around since the mid-1800's in the United States. This handgun was named for its inventor, Henry Deringer, who died in 1869. The double-r spelling came about when people made counterfeits of the gun, which was widely copied because of its great success. This gun was popular with women because it was easy to hide in a purse, beaded or not.
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Vocabulary lists containing derringer
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