WEAPON

weapon. Weapon, n. an instrument of offense or defense

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Weap″on (?; 277), n. [[OE. wepen, AS. w�pen; akin to OS. w�pan, OFries. w�pin, w�pen, D. wapen, G. waffe, OHG. waffan, wāfan, Icel. vāpn, Dan. vaaben, Sw. vapen, Goth. w�pna, pl.; of uncertain origin. Cf. Wapentake.]] 1. 1. An instrument of offensive of defensive combat; something to fight with; anything used, or designed to be used, in destroying, defeating, or injuring an enemy, as a gun, a sword, etc.
The weapons of our warfare are not carnal. 2 Cor. x. 4. They, astonished, all resistance lost, All courage; down their idle weapons dropped. Milton. 2. 2. Fig.: The means or instrument with which one contends against another; as, argument was his only weapon. “Woman's weapons, water drops.” Shak.
3. 3. (Bot.) A thorn, prickle, or sting with which many plants are furnished.
Concealed weapons. See under Concealed. — Weapon salve, a salve which was supposed to cure a wound by being applied to the weapon that made it. Boyle.