Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The lever pressed by the finger to discharge a firearm.
  • noun A similar device used to release or activate a mechanism.
  • noun An event that precipitates other events.
  • noun Electronics A pulse or circuit that initiates the action of another component.
  • transitive verb To set off; initiate.
  • transitive verb To fire or explode (a weapon or an explosive charge).

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Any device by means of which a catch or spring is released and a trap sprung or other mechanism set in action; specifically, in firearms, a small projecting tongue of steel which, when pressed, liberates the hammer of the lock; by extension, in crossbows and similar arms, the lever which, when pressed, liberates the string of the bow. See hair-trigger, and cuts under gun, revolver, and rifle.
  • noun A catch to hold the wheel of a carriage on a declivity.
  • noun In ship-building, a wooden piece employed to hold up a dogshore. It is removed just before launching, when the dogshore is knocked away.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A catch to hold the wheel of a carriage on a declivity.
  • noun (Mech.) A piece, as a lever, which is connected with a catch or detent as a means of releasing it; especially (Firearms), the part of a lock which is moved by the finger to release the cock and discharge the piece.
  • noun (Zoöl.) a large plectognath fish (Balistes Carolinensis or Balistes capriscus) common on the southern coast of the United States, and valued as a food fish in some localities. Its rough skin is used for scouring and polishing in the place of sandpaper. Called also leather jacket, and turbot.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A finger-operated lever used to fire a gun.
  • noun A similar device used to activate any mechanism.
  • noun An event that initiates others, or incites a response.
  • noun psychology An event, experience or other stimulus that initiates a traumatic memory or action in a person.
  • noun electronics A pulse in an electronic circuit that initiates some component.
  • noun computing An SQL procedure that may be initiated when a record is inserted, updated or deleted; typically used to maintain referential integrity.
  • noun online gaming A text string that, when received by a player, will cause the player to execute a certain command.
  • noun archaic A catch to hold the wheel of a carriage on a declivity.
  • verb transitive to fire a weapon
  • verb transitive to initiate something

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a device that activates or releases or causes something to happen
  • noun an act that sets in motion some course of events
  • noun lever that activates the firing mechanism of a gun
  • verb put in motion or move to act
  • verb release or pull the trigger on

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Dutch trekker, from Middle Dutch trecker, from trecken, to pull.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Originally tricker, from Dutch trekker, from trekken ("to drag, draw, pull").

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Examples

Comments

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  • To lure other Wordies into listing words or making comments. See The Several Stages of Wordie Addiction.

    December 13, 2007

  • Wasn't Trigger the Lone Ranger's horse? So why's he here instead of at www.mistered.org?

    December 13, 2007

  • He and Mr. Ed didn't get along.

    December 13, 2007

  • Roy Rogers. See A Horse is a Horse

    February 1, 2008

  • The Lone Ranger's horse was named Silver:

    "A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty 'Hi Yo Silver, away!' With his faithful Indian companion Tonto, the daring and resourceful masked rider of the plains, led the fight for law and order in the early west. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. The Lone Ranger rides again!"

    April 27, 2008

  • "The movie cowboy's faithful companion was bought by the cable company RFD-TV in Omaha, at a Christie's auction of items from the now-closed Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum in Branson, Mo."

    --"Roy Rogers' stuffed horse Trigger sold at auction," by Eva Dou, USA Today, July 2010.

    January 29, 2011