Weapon \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, w[=a]fan, Icel. v[=a]pn, Dan. vaaben, Sw. vapen, Goth. w?pna, pl.; of uncertain origin. Cf. Wapentake.]

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. Fig.: The means or instrument with which one contends against another; as, argument was his only weapon. ``Woman's weapons, water drops.'' --Shak.

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. [Obs.]

--Boyle.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)