gunfighter
Quick-draw specialist
A gunfighter is someone skilled in armed combat with pistols, especially in the context of the American Old West.
The term evokes frontier lawmen, outlaws, and duelists of the late 1800s: Wyatt Earp was a legendary gunfighter.
In modern use, gunfighter often appears in westerns and video games, carrying romantic or mythologized connotations of quick draws and showdowns at high noon.
Rapid weapon retrieval
- shootoutArmed confrontation or tiebreaker
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- faceoffDirect competitive confrontation
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
showdown · pistol · revolver · holster · aim · trigger · accuracy · marksman
Mounted cattle herder
- frontierEdge of settlement
- saloonDrinking establishment, often frontier
- sheriffCounty's chief officer
- outlawFugitive from justice
posse · bounty · six-shooter · Winchester · holster · spurs · saddle · mustang
Armed roadside thief
- desperadoBold, reckless outlaw
- renegadeDeserter of a cause
- fugitiveOne fleeing authorities
- rustlerOne who steals cattle
highwayman · brigand · robber · raider · criminal · felon · wanted · bounty hunter
quickdraw
Rapid weapon retrieval
- shootoutArmed confrontation or tiebreaker
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- faceoffDirect competitive confrontation
confrontation · showdown · pistol · revolver · holster · aim · trigger · accuracy · marksman · sharpshooter
cowboy
Mounted cattle herder
outlaw · posse · bounty · six-shooter · Winchester · holster · spurs · saddle · mustang · ranch
bandit
Armed roadside thief
rustler · highwayman · brigand · robber · raider · criminal · felon · wanted · bounty hunter · hideout
lawman
Enforcement officer
protector · champion · brave · fearless · steadfast · loyal · noble · gallant · legendary · peacekeeper
killer
One who causes death
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
- ruthlessLacking any compassion
- deadlyAble to cause expiration
merciless · infamous · feared · menacing · reputation · legend · gunhand · assassin · fast draw · body count
- Westernscowboys, western, outlaws, sheriffs, western novels
- Wild Westcowboy, howdy, sheriff, giddyup, lawmen
- gunslingersquickdraw, fast draw, shootist, dead shot, crack shot
- Outlawsoutlaw, bandit, desperado, highwayman, robber
- quick drawfast draw, holster, six-shooter, revolver, Colt
- armed peopleshooter, sniper, rifleman, gunner, marksman
gunfighterpeacemaker
Conflict resolution agent
pacifist · mediator · diplomat · conscientious objector · negotiator
- bring a knife to a gunfightArrive fatally underprepared
- bringing a knife to a gunfightDisastrously underprepared for confrontation
- brought a knife to a gunfightDisastrously underprepared for conflict
- take a knife to a gunfightArrive fatally underprepared