Locked and Loaded
I met Janee at Fort Constitution on Saturday. She has been a Revolutionary War reenactor for over 15 years. She gave me a tour of her extremely well-cared-for flintlock musket and explained all the moving parts. This led to a fascinating list of common phrases that we use today that originated from the various parts and functios of her weapon!
"Lock, stock and barrel" - her hands are on the stock and barrel and the lock is part of the trigger in the middle. From Wicktionary: From the three principal parts of a flintlock.
"Locked and loaded" - when the trigger is set and locked, and the barrel is loaded with gunpowder and ready to shoot. If you are "locked and loaded", it means you are ready for whatever comes next.
"Flash in the pan" - From Wicktionary: From the days of flintlock firearms, where the main charge was intended to be fired by a small charge of gunpowder in the priming pan. If the resultant fire did not pass through the touch-hole and ignite the main charge, the momentary coruscation produced noise and smoke, but no substantial effect, and was termed a “flash in the pan”.
"Go off half-cocked" - From Wicktionary: From the days of flintlock and caplock firearms, where the half-cock position of the hammer was both a rudimentary safety, and the proper position for priming the pan or inserting a percussion cap. Today, it means "to take a premature or ill-considered action."
Locked and Loaded
I met Janee at Fort Constitution on Saturday. She has been a Revolutionary War reenactor for over 15 years. She gave me a tour of her extremely well-cared-for flintlock musket and explained all the moving parts. This led to a fascinating list of common phrases that we use today that originated from the various parts and functios of her weapon!
"Lock, stock and barrel" - her hands are on the stock and barrel and the lock is part of the trigger in the middle. From Wicktionary: From the three principal parts of a flintlock.
"Locked and loaded" - when the trigger is set and locked, and the barrel is loaded with gunpowder and ready to shoot. If you are "locked and loaded", it means you are ready for whatever comes next.
"Flash in the pan" - From Wicktionary: From the days of flintlock firearms, where the main charge was intended to be fired by a small charge of gunpowder in the priming pan. If the resultant fire did not pass through the touch-hole and ignite the main charge, the momentary coruscation produced noise and smoke, but no substantial effect, and was termed a “flash in the pan”.
"Go off half-cocked" - From Wicktionary: From the days of flintlock and caplock firearms, where the half-cock position of the hammer was both a rudimentary safety, and the proper position for priming the pan or inserting a percussion cap. Today, it means "to take a premature or ill-considered action."