schietgeweer

Dutch

Etymology

Compound of schieten (“to shoot”) +‎ geweer (“sidearm; gun”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsxit.xəˌʋeːr/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: schiet‧ge‧weer

Noun

schietgeweer n (plural schietgeweren, diminutive schietgeweertje n)

1. (now chiefly childish or humorous) a gun, a firearm

   Synonyms: geweer, schietwapen, vuurwapen

Usage notes

• 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.