unlimbering
Preparing cannon fire
Unlimbering is preparing something for use after a period of inactivity or storage.
The word comes from artillery practice—a limber is the wheeled carriage that transports a cannon, and unlimbering means detaching the gun to make it ready to fire.
The meaning extends to any preparation: She sat at the piano, unlimbering her fingers with scales.
Athletes unlimber stiff muscles; writers unlimber rusty skills.
Large mounted gun
- howitzerShort-barreled artillery piece
- field gunPortable military cannon
- batteryPortable electricity storage
- ordnanceMilitary weapons collectively
gunnery · emplacement · gunners · artillerymen · carriage · deployment · aiming · elevation
Reducing tightness or tension
- stretchingExtending muscles or material
- flexibilityAbility to adapt easily
- conditioningLearned behavioral adaptation
- relaxationState of being unwound
suppleness · easing · releasing · unfastening · readying · unfolding · exercises · agility
Calm and controlled
- primedMade ready beforehand
- setArrange in position
- readySuitable for use now
- positionedSet in location
braced · prepared · alert · in position · geared up · deployed · engaged · at the ready
cannon
Large mounted gun
- howitzerShort-barreled artillery piece
- field gunPortable military cannon
- batteryPortable electricity storage
ordnance · gunnery · emplacement · gunners · artillerymen · carriage · deployment · aiming · elevation · trajectory
loosening
Reducing tightness or tension
- stretchingExtending muscles or material
- flexibilityAbility to adapt easily
- conditioningLearned behavioral adaptation
relaxation · suppleness · easing · releasing · unfastening · readying · unfolding · exercises · agility · pliability
poised
Calm and controlled
positioned · braced · prepared · alert · in position · geared up · deployed · engaged · at the ready · standing by
unlimberinglimbering
Becoming more flexible
packing up · stowing · securing · storing · decommissioning
unlimberingstiffening
Becoming less pliable
tensing · seizing up · cramping · locking up · tightening up
limber, limbered, limbering, limberness, unlimber, unlimbered, unlimbers, unlimbed