meaning - What does “packing heat” mean?


I believe it means “to carry a weapon”, but I would also like the phrase origins, if possible. So the full question is:


What is the meaning of the phrase “packing heat” and what are its origins?



Answer



Heat/heater is slang for "gun" (definition #14) and to pack has an informal meaning "to carry, deliver, or have available for action" (v. tr. definition #8). So "packing heat" means that you are carrying a gun (and are ready to use it).


According to the Oxford English Dictionary, here is the first citation for this phrase:



1932 W. R. BURNETT Silver Eagle i. 7 ‘He don't even pack a heater.’ ‘Don't what?’ ‘He don't carry a gun.’



And the first citation I see that uses heat instead of heater (from an old dictionary):



1942 L. V. BERREY & M. VAN DEN BARK Amer. Thes. Slang §496/6 Pack (a) heat,..to carry a gun.



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