Article: Word watch: The origins of words.(Originated from Merriam-Webster's Wordwatch: Discover the origin of more than 1,50)

words in Merriam-Webster's New Book of Word Histories.

Q. Can you tell me how the weapon we call a ``gun'' got its name?

A. Odd as it may seem, the ``gun'' may owe its name to a woman of the 14th century. Early Scandinavian mythology celebrated the warlike virtues. Women as well as men of Norse legend were often brilliant warriors. Likewise many proper names of Old Norse women were borrowed from the battlefield. One of these, ``Gunnhildr,'' is a compound of ``gunnr'' and ``hildr,'' both words meaning ``battle.'' The Scandinavian element had been increasingly prominent in the language and life of England since the raids and the settlement began in the ...

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