weapon
n. countablen. an object like a gun or a knife that is used to hurt people or damage things. In a casual way, you can also use it to describe someone who is very silly or annoying.
n. an instrument or device used for inflicting bodily harm or physical damage. In British and Irish slang, it functions as a pejorative for a person perceived as foolish, incompetent, or socially inept.
The police found the hidden weapon in the bushes.
The negotiator convinced the suspect to drop his weapon and surrender peacefully to the authorities.
While the treaty strictly regulates the trade of conventional weapons, many argue that it fails to address the growing threat of digital tools used for state-sponsored sabotage.
From Middle English wepen, from Old English wǣpn, from Proto-West Germanic wāpn, from Proto-Germanic wēpną (“weapon”), of unknown origin, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *wēbnom. Cognates Cognate with Scots weepon (“weapon”), North Frisian woopen (“weapon”), Saterland Frisian Woapen (“weapon”), West Frisian wapen (“weapon; coat of arms”), Alemannic German Waaffe (“tool”), Dutch wapen (“weapon”), German Waffe (“weapon”) and Wappen (“coat of arms”), Luxembourgish Waff (“weapon”), Yiddish וואָפֿן (vofn, “weapon”), Danish våben (“weapon; coat of arms”), Faroese vákn, vápn (“weapon; whaling lance”), Icelandic vopn (“weapon”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk våpen (“weapon”), Swedish vapen (“weapon; coat of arms”), Gothic 𐍅𐌴𐍀𐌽 (wēpn, “weapon”).
Commonly used in the phrase 'lethal weapon' or 'murder weapon'. In its slang sense, it is typically used as a mild to moderate insult.