magnum

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a wine or champagne bottle holding 1.5 liters, twice the volume of a standard bottle

   They opened a magnum of champagne for the anniversary dinner.

2. 2
   noun

   a powerful firearm cartridge, or a firearm designed to use such a cartridge

   The guide carried a magnum as protection in bear country.

From Latin magnum, the neuter form of magnus, 'great or large.' The bottle name is traditionally explained as a shortening of magnum bonum, 'a great good'; the cartridge and firearm use later applied the same word to unusually powerful ammunition.

Topics