unlimber

From un- +‎ limber.

unlimber (third-person singular simple present unlimbers, present participle unlimbering, simple past and past participle unlimbered) (transitive)

1. (obsolete) To detach (an artillery piece) from its limber to deploy for firing.
   • 1895–1897, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, “At the Window”, in The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, published 1898, →OCLC, book I (The Coming of the Martians), page 83:

     The gun he drove had been unlimbered near Horsell, in order to command the sand-pits, and its arrival had precipitated the action.

2. (by extension)
   1. To clumsily put into employ (a large weapon or object).
   2. To unsling (something, as a backpack, carried on the body with a strap); to bring (something carried) into the hands for use.
3. (figurative) To stretch (limbs, muscles, etc., that have been cramped or unused for some time).
   • 1909 October – 1910 February, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, “In Pleasant Street”, in Psmith Journalist, London: A[dam] & C[harles] Black, […], published October 1923, →OCLC, page 140:

     "I fancy," said Psmith, "that this is one of those moments when it is necessary for me to unlimber my Sherlock Holmes system. […] Do you follow me, Comrade Maloney?" / "That's right," said Billy Windsor. "Of course." / "Elementary, my dear Watson, elementary," murmured Psmith.

   • 1963, Arthur Upfield, The Lake Frome Monster, London: Pan Books, published 1969, page 111:

     Bony jumped down and unlimbered his cramped muscles before going after his camels.

• limber

unlimber (comparative more unlimber, superlative most unlimber)

1. Not limber; lacking flexibility.