1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. xviii., ch. ix. As sure as a gun I have hit o’ the very right o’t.
1759. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, vol. vi., ch. xxvi. Think ye not that, in striking these in,—he might, peradventure, strike something out? as sure as a gun.
1825. Egan, Life of an Actor, iv. By gum! he roared out, sir, as sure as a gun.
d. 1842. Father Prout, Reliques, I. 19. ‘Vert-Vert, the Parrot.’ Scared at the sound,—‘Sure as a gun, The bird’s a demon!’ cried the nun. [[236]]
1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. lviii. In every party of the nobility his name’s down as sure as a gun.
1891. N. Gould, Double Event, p. 141. Nobbed, sure as a gun!
1892. Manville Fenn, New Mistress, xxxv. They were both down there about that school-money Betsey, as sure as a gun.
Gundiguts, subs. (common).—A fat man; a forty guts (q.v.).
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.