英语词汇21-gun salute的起源、历史背景-英语词源词典

21-gun salute. Guns were fired as salutes in early times, but a 21-gun salute is an American expression. According to an offi- cial U.S. Navy publication: “Guns could not be loaded quickly then, so the act of firing one in a salute indicated that the saluter had disarmed himself in deference to the person being saluted. The larger the number of guns fired the greater degree of disar- mament . . .” Since 21 guns was the greatest number found on one side of one of the larger ships of the line, firing all of them became the highest mark of respect, reserved for heads of state. Fewer numbers of guns were fired in salutes to people of lesser importance. But for any salute only odd numbers are used, re- flecting the old seagoing superstition against even numbers. This form of saluting was first recognized in the U.S. in 1875. As commander in chief, the president is accorded the highest salute of 21 guns.

词汇	21-gun salute
词源	21-gun salute. Guns were fired as salutes in early times, but a 21-gun salute is an American expression. According to an offi- cial U.S. Navy publication: “Guns could not be loaded quickly then, so the act of firing one in a salute indicated that the saluter had disarmed himself in deference to the person being saluted. The larger the number of guns fired the greater degree of disar- mament . . .” Since 21 guns was the greatest number found on one side of one of the larger ships of the line, firing all of them became the highest mark of respect, reserved for heads of state. Fewer numbers of guns were fired in salutes to people of lesser importance. But for any salute only odd numbers are used, re- flecting the old seagoing superstition against even numbers. This form of saluting was first recognized in the U.S. in 1875. As commander in chief, the president is accorded the highest salute of 21 guns.
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