What does derringer mean?
A derringer is a very small, short-barreled handgun designed to be carried concealed in a pocket, purse, or boot. Typically of large caliber despite its diminutive size, it takes its name from Henry Deringer, a Philadelphia gunsmith who produced such pistols in the nineteenth century. Because his design was widely copied, the generic lowercase form "derringer" came to describe any similar compact pistol, regardless of manufacturer. The word is strongly associated with American history: John Wilkes Booth used a derringer to assassinate Abraham Lincoln in 1865, and the weapon became a fixture of Western lore and detective fiction. Today "derringer" appears mainly in historical writing, firearms discussion, and fiction, where it evokes secrecy and sudden violence. It functions as a countable noun with the standard plural "derringers," and its spelling — with two r's — differs from the original maker's name.
nounA small, short-barreled pocket pistol, typically with a large caliber, designed to be easily concealed.
- A small, short-barreled pocket pistol, usually of large caliber, made to be concealed on the person; originally any of the pistols made by Henry Deringer of Philadelphia, later generalized to similar guns by other makers.
"The detective found a derringer hidden in the suspect's boot."
"She kept an antique derringer in a velvet-lined drawer as a family heirloom."
"Booth fired a single shot from a derringer at point-blank range."
Regular plural formation; used when referring to multiple pistols or the type in general.
"Collectors prize the original Philadelphia derringers above all later copies."
The derringer was the gun that killed Abraham Lincoln — a tiny .44-caliber pistol small enough to vanish in a coat pocket.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of derringer
The word derives from the name of Henry Deringer Jr., a nineteenth-century American gunsmith based in Philadelphia who manufactured small, large-caliber pocket pistols. His surname itself is likely of German origin, related to names such as Thuringer, meaning someone from Thuringia. As Deringer's design was imitated by other makers, his trade name was generalized into the common noun "derringer," acquiring an extra r in the process. The word thus belongs to a small class of English nouns formed from personal names of inventors or manufacturers, alongside terms like "colt" and "mauser."
How derringer is actually used
The word is always lowercase in modern usage, even though it derives from the proper name Deringer. It carries historical and somewhat romanticized connotations, appearing most often in writing about the American West, crime fiction, and firearms history. The spelling "derringer" (with double r) is now standard, though the original maker's name was spelled "Deringer."
Easily confused with derringer
"Daring" is an adjective or noun meaning bold and adventurous, while "derringer" is a noun naming a small pocket pistol.