subs. (colloquial).—Generic. Thus (1) = a revolver: also, according to capacity, a FIVE, SIX, or SEVEN-SHOOTER; (2) = the guard of a mail coach (old): he was armed with a blunderbuss; (3) = a shooting star; (4) = a shooting-stick (printers’); a piece of hard word or metal used with a mallet for tightening quoins in a chase; (5) = a ball (cricket) bowled full pitch but SHOOTING IN close to the ground; and (6) = a black morning coat (Harrow) as distinguished from the tail coat worn by the Fifth and Sixth Forms.
d. 1633. HERBERT, Artillery. But I have also stars and SHOOTERS too.
1840. THACKERAY, A Shabby Genteel Story. He had a word for the hostler about ‘that grey mare,’ a nod for the ‘SHOOTER’ or guard.
1899. H. BEAUCHAMP and E. WELLS, (‘Pot and Swears’), The Scarlet City, 107. Miss Winks took the terrible SHOOTER with a trembling hand. ‘You’re sure it’s not loaded?’ she ejaculated.
