spear, gun

鎗 is composed of 金 (gold) and 倉 (warehouse). Since weapons were frequently forged from metal and 倉 carries the extended meaning of haste or speed, 鎗 conveys the idea of a metal weapon designed for rapid, sudden strikes. Thus, like its wooden-radical counterpart, it refers to thrusting metal weapons (such as spears or pikes) and, in modern usage, firearms.