derringer

D2E1R1R1I1N1G2E1R1
UK/ˈdɛɹɪndʒə(ɹ)/

noun

A type of very small, concealable pistol with one or two barrels but without any loading system or magazine.

UncommonScrabble 11
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Meanings

derringer1

nounderringer (plural derringers)

plural derringers · alternative deringer · alternative Deringer · alternative Derringer

  1. A type of very small, concealable pistol with one or two barrels but without any loading system or magazine.

    “Afraid? Oh no! they never interfere with me. […] And look here,” and diving her little hand into the bodice of her dress she produced a double-barrelled nickel-plated Derringer, “I always carry that loaded, and if anybody tried to touch me I should shoot him[…]”

    1887, H[enry] Rider Haggard, chapter IV, in Allan Quatermain […], London: Longmans, Green, and Co., →OCLC

Derringer2

proper nounDerringer (plural Derringers)

plural Derringers

  1. A surname from German.
nounDerringer (plural Derringers)

plural Derringers

  1. alternativedatedAlternative form of derringer (“pistol”).

Origin

derringer · noun

Named after American gunsmith Henry Deringer (1786–1868).

Full word history & related roots →

Derringer · proper noun, noun

Variant of Deringer.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

regrinder
Cite this entry
APA

derringer. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/derringer

MLA

“derringer.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/derringer. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “derringer,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/derringer.

Source: derringer on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.