an energy weapon that emits ions
Also in use since the 1930s to describe an actual ion-emitting device used in physics, materials science, etc.
By dawn the Polshins were inspecting old atomic cruisers, looking again at the old ion-guns that had swept death through a thousand corridors in past years.
You’re free to try any smuggling you want, but be careful. They already know what an ion gun looks like, and we have been told that they’re very good at guessing. We don’t know, of course, what articles besides weapons they don’t want us to have; so be careful in taking anything you think they might object to. I'm going to take this load up.
He’s committed murder…. Just an hour or so ago with an ion gun.
He moved toward his suit. Reluctantly, he climbed into it, menaced continually by the ion-gun.
Ye canna shoot me with an ion-gun.
We’ve got a portable ion gun. It’s used to fight off attacking airships.
‘Any of you Dust Devils care to astonish us with your profound knowledge of energy weapons? How about you, Dave? Then kindly lose the smirk and listen up. Go ahead, Chou.’ ‘Sure, John, but I hardly consider myself an expert. Here’s what I do know: basically an ion-plasma cannon, or “blast-torch,” is a semi-portable rocket engine combined with an ion gun and a tracking system.’ Larker could tell from the blank looks that he’d already left everyone but Davies a mile behind.
antedating 1935
Last modified 2022-03-11 15:53:02
In the compilation of some
entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries
in OED.