double-barrelled

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Used other than figuratively or idiomatically

   Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see double, barrelled. Having two barrels, as a gun.

2. 2

   Twofold, having a double purpose or nature.

   • Alexander Taylor, a native of Stonehaven who in the later forties went to Edinburgh, where he enjoyed a double-barrelled reputation as a rhymester and as an astronomer.
   • Skilling came to Enron with a double-barrelled reputation: on the one hand he was known to be a cold man with a taste for macho showing-off (Enron employees nicknamed him 'Darth Vader'). On the other hand he was said to be a genius ...
3. 3

   Having two separate parts, often adjoined by a hyphen (or sometimes a space).

   • Almost unbelievably, some authors have formed the erroneous conception that ‘Hobson-Jobson’ is actually the double-barrelled surname of the dictionary’s editor.
4. ›+ 1 more definitionshow fewer

   1. 4

      Forceful, powerful (like a double-barrelled shotgun).

      • Range Rover ran an ad campaign referring to grouse shooting with the line: “There’s only one car for the double-barrelled.”

The neighborhood

• neighbordouble-barrelled shotgun
• neighborlong-barrelled
• neighbortriple-barrelled
• neighbortupara