gunsel
/ˈɡʌns(ə)l
/noun US informal
A criminal carrying a gun.The character of noir is subtly uncompromising, at the right time mortally confronting not the two-bit gunsel but Mr. Big, the respectable-appearing ring leader behind it all....
- In The Maltese Falcon, the dandified villain is a corpulent homosexual with a lustful penchant for ancient art and gunsels.
- The same can hardly be said of the gunsel in Magnificent Seven… and as for the assassin in ‘Battle Beyond the Stars’, well that's a whole other scary world…
Origin
Early 20th century (denoting a tramp's young companion): from Yiddish gendzel 'little goose', influenced in sense by gun.
- double bass
- double bassoon
- double bill
- double bind
- double-bitted axe
- double-blind
- double bluff
- double bogey
- double boiler
- double bond
- double-book
- double-breasted
- double bridle
- double-check
- double chin
- double-chinned
- double-click
- double-clutch
- double coconut
- double concerto
- double convict
- double cream
- double-cross
- double-crosser
- double-cut