# Quaker gun

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/quaker-gun
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A nonfunctional imitation of a gun or an artillery piece, typically made of wood and usually intended to deceive enemy forces into overestimating one's available firepower.

## Examples

- The soldiers used a Quaker gun to trick the enemy.
- He builds a Quaker gun from wood to scare off the intruders.
- To protect the fort, the commander placed a Quaker gun on the wall to make the attackers think they were well-defended.
- The rebel group painted heavy logs to look like cannons, creating a Quaker gun that successfully frightened the approaching scouts away from their camp.
- Historians found that the old ship carried a Quaker gun because the crew could not afford real weapons to defend against pirates.
- Lacking actual artillery, the desperate defenders deployed a Quaker gun, hoping the mere silhouette of the log would deter an immediate assault.

## Origin

From Quaker + gun, referring to the pacifism associated with practitioners of the Quaker religion. The term originated in the 18th century as a name for wooden logs painted black to resemble cannons, intended to deceive an enemy into believing a fortification was armed when it was, in fact, harmless.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.