subs. phr. (old).—1.  A toy gun: POP-GUN is a later form: see POP, verb.

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  1550.  UDALL, Roister Doister [ARBER], 73. Bryng with thee my POTGUNNE, hangyng by the wall.

2

  1585.  FLEMING, The Nomenclator, 278, s.v. Sclopus, &c. A POTGUN made of an elderne sticke, or hollow quill, whereout boyes shoote chawen paper.

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  1620.  JOSEPH HALL, The Honour of the Maried Clergie, 148. They are but as the POTGUNS of boys.

4

  c. 1637.  JONSON [MOXON, Works, 719].

        The ratling pit-pat noise
Of the less poetic boys,
When their POT-GUNS aim to hit,
With their pellets of small wit.

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  1707.  WARD, Hudibras Redivivus, I. xii. 16.

        Such dreadful POT-GUNS of Correction,
That threaten’d nothing but Destruction.

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  1899.  R. WHITEING, No. 5 John Street, xvi. Pigeons may be killed, of course, with a POP-GUN in a back-yard.

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  2.  (old).—A reproach.

8

  1623.  WEBSTER, The Duchess of Malfi, iii. 3.

        I saw a Dutchman break his pate once
For calling him POT-GUN.

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  1693.  CONGREVE, The Old Bachelor, iii. 8. That sign of a man there—that POT-GUN charged with wind.

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