unlimber

¹ American  

[uhn-lim-ber] / ʌnˈlɪm bər /

adjective

1. not limber; inflexible; stiff.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. limber.

unlimber ² American  

[uhn-lim-ber] / ʌnˈlɪm bər /

verb (used with object)

1. to detach (a gun) from its limber or prime mover.

2. to make ready for use or action.

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verb (used without object)

1. to prepare for action.

noun

1. the act of changing a gun from traveling to firing position.

unlimber British  

/ ʌnˈlɪmbə /

verb

1. (tr) to disengage (a gun) from its limber

2. to prepare (something) for use

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Etymology

Origin of unlimber¹

unlimber ¹ ( def. 1 ) un- ¹ + limber ¹; unlimber ¹ ( def. 2 ) un- ² + limber ¹

Origin of unlimber¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; un- ² + limber ²

Example Sentences

Ditto his failure to unlimber his wallet.

From The Wall Street Journal

In it, the English author lays out rules for a strategic version of toy soldiers—the number of moves required “to pass a fordable river,” “to embark into boats,” and “to unlimber guns.”

From Slate

And once you lower yourself into the all-leather cockpit — a bit of a feat if you’re tall and unlimber, like me — it’s like sitting in the pocket of a brand-new baseball glove.

From New York Times

Unlimber, un-lim′bėr, v.t. to remove the limbers from, to take off the limbers of.—v.i. to detach the limbers from the guns.

From Project Gutenberg

We are ready to unlimber our minds, and prepare for long journeys into strange regions, but we want to move cautiously, and choose our route carefully, and be sure we do not lose our way!

From Project Gutenberg