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Glite Dictionary
to uncock

to uncock

1 8.9
To move a gun's hammer or part from the ready position to a safe position
  • verb
  • /ʌnˈkɑk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : desarmar
  • After checking for any threats, she uncocked the gun and placed it safely in the drawer.
  • uncock the gun

Examples

  • But Hardy uncocked it.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Sam craned in the passenger window and stole licks off their ice cream cones, cocking and uncocking his tight buttocks as he shifted his weight from foot to foot.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • I uncocked my own gun and put it away.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Uncock it.

    Maverick (1994)

  • Hull uncocks the gun, rubs it against his burning face.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • But as the BUZZER continues, he reluctantly uncocks his gun, looking up angrily towards his front door...

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Slowly, Olin uncocked the shotgun, snapped on the safeties, and put the weapon on the ground beside him.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • He carefully uncocked the firearm before setting it down on the table.

  • To ensure safety, always uncock the weapon when you are done using it.

Antonyms

to cock
  • Specialized
13 8.2

To pull back a gun's hammer or trigger so it is ready to fire

Surface Forms

uncock infinitive
uncocked past
uncocked past participle
uncocking present participle
uncocks third person singular

Morphology

uncock = cock (transparent) = un + cock

The meaning is clearly derived by adding the prefix 'un-' to the verb 'cock', indicating the reversal of the action.

Etymology

The word uncock is made from un- meaning 'not' and cock meaning 'the gun's hammer' that is set back to be 'ready' to fire. So, to uncock a gun is to move its hammer out of the 'ready' position and make the gun safe.