Gunning

Gunning is a term with several related meanings tied to firearms and engines. As a verb, to gun means to operate a firearm, to aim and fire it, or to drive a vehicle at high speed by pressing the accelerator. The gerund form, gunning, appears in phrases such as gunning down someone (shooting, often fatally) and gunning the engine (rapid acceleration). In sports or military contexts, gunning can refer to firing projectiles from guns or artillery.

In military and technical language, gunnery denotes the discipline and practice of aiming, firing, and judging the performance of guns. This includes the science of ballistics, target engagement, range estimation, and weapon maintenance. Gunnery training is a standard component of armed forces, naval fire control, and artillery operation.

Gunning is also an English-language surname and toponym. The surname is found in English- and Irish-origin lineages and appears in various countries with English-speaking populations. As a place name, Gunning refers to locations such as Gunning, New South Wales, Australia, a town named in the region.

Usage and nuance can vary by context. The phrase gunning for someone is an idiomatic expression meaning to pursue or intend to defeat them, while gunfire refers to the discharge of firearms in general. The term’s connotations range from technical and military to everyday slang for rapid acceleration or aggressive pursuit.