Green’s Dictionary of Slang

to rev an engine hard; thus to accelerate.

1920		in J. Loosbrock Wild Blue (1961) 84: Not having room to ‘gun’ the tail down, I cut the switches.
1930		‘Aviation Lingo’ AS V:4 290: Gun the motor, v.phr. Accelerate the motor.
1943		R.L. Bellem ‘Dead Man’s Shakedown’ in Dan Turner Detective Mar. 🌐 I piled into my bucket, aimed it away from the curb, gunned it.
1943		R. Chandler Lady in the Lake (1952) 153: I gunned the motor the other way. Behind me sounded the rough clashing of gears, the howl of an infuriated motor.
1953		F. Paley Rumble on the Docks (1955) 64: Fitz gunned the car.
1957		R. Prather Always Leave ’Em Dying 138: Lyn was gunning the motor in low before I landed.
1968		T. Wolfe Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (1969) 249: He jumped into the car and gunned off; and smashed into a tree.
1974		V.E. Smith Jones Men 35: J.J. gunned the car down Elmworth with the tires screaming.
1985		J. Morrison Share House Blues 68: ‘Jesus God!’ mutters Marcus, gunning the engine, as Gerontius races up and jumps into the car.
1989		C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 74: He gunned the outboard and made a beeline for his stilt house.
1992		R.G. Barrett White Shoes 240: Tony took off and did his best to gun the big limo through any gaps in the traffic.
1993		T. Jones Pugilist at Rest 108: I [...] gunned the V-12 Jaguar, and roared out of Clendon’s life forever.
2003		N. Griffiths Stump 8: They are driving a Morris Minor [...] which trembles and coughs and threatens to distintegrate whenever Darren Taylor, the driver, attempts to gun the engine.
2005		P. Temple Broken Shore (2007) [ebook] Cashin saw the tank gun out of the gate and swing right.
2006		B. Matthews Intractable [ebook] I pushed the pedal to the metal and gunned it.
2009		Financial Times Weekend Mag. 10/11Jan. 42/3: I gunned the Harley-Davidson into the long sweeping turns of the hills.
2011		G. Knight Hood Rat 127: Jimmy guns the engine and they roar off.
2013		T. Dorsey Riptide Ultra-Glide 143: ‘He’s gunning the engine again. They’re about to take off’.
2021		J. Ellroy Widespread Panic 283: I gunned my sled and peeled through the rear-exit alley.