[PW] "Pigeon-killers"

[John P. Dyson]

Quoting Carolyn Scheer <scenic3 at real.more.net>:

> We need this before 6:00 tonight!!!!!!!  Our children's librarian has
> cub scouts coming in after hours and we need to know what the
> 19th-century term "pigeon killer" might mean.  It is listed in our
> city's ordinances as "forbidden in any public place", including the
> new  in 1884 city park -- along with playing baseball, throwing
> stones, flying kites, and using "pigeon killers."   Our guesses
> include: 1) sling-shot  2) shotgun  3) poison corn.

I think you're right about it being a slingshot. I notice that another 
common regional name for one, "flipper," does not appear in standard 
dictionaries. One may have to check in the DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN 
REGIONAL ENGLISH to find it.

John Dyson