Obs. [f. WIND sb.1 + GUN sb.] A gun for shooting a missile by the force of compressed air: = AIR-GUN.
1644. Digby, Nat. Bodies, xii. § 6. 104. The experience of windgunnes assureth vs that ayre duly applyed is able to giue greater motion vnto heauy bodies then vnto light ones.
1728. Pope, Dunc., I. 181. As, forcd from wind-guns, lead itself can fly.
1779. Phil. Trans., LXIX. 399. That air compressed to one tenth in a wind gun possesses a power not much short of gunpowder.
1800. Sporting Mag., XVI. 273. It will not be out of place here to add some remarks on wind guns.
fig. 1663. Cowley, Cutter Coleman-St., Prol. They [sc. critics] shoot, alas, with Wind-gunns, chargd with Air.
1680. Collect. Poems, 190. I am one of those that have been shot at by Wind-Guns, which have prejudiced my Reputation.
1781. Cowper, Conversat., 274. His whisperd theme, dilated and at large, Proves after all a wind-guns airy charge.