Shotgun

Quick meaning: Shotgun is a noun meaning (firearms) A gun which fires loads typically consisting of small metal balls, called shot, from a cartridge.

Meaning

(firearms) A gun which fires loads typically consisting of small metal balls, called shot, from a cartridge.

More Meanings

1. (US, especially Southern US) A one-story dwelling with no hallways or corridors, with the rooms arranged in a straight line.
2. Relating to shotguns, either in a present or past sense.
3. Relating to the threat of force or dubious means.
4. Relating to the use of numerous, diverse or indiscriminate means to achieve a particular result.
5. (American football) An offensive formation in which the quarterback receives the snap at a distance behind the center, often with a running back set to one or both sides of him.
6. (slang, smoking) To inhale from a pipe or other smoking device, followed shortly by an exhalation into someone else’s mouth.
7. (slang) The front passenger seat in a vehicle, next to the driver; so called because the position of the shotgun-armed guard on a horse-drawn stage-coach, wagon train, or gold transport was next to the driver on a forward-mounted bench seat. Can also be used in situations of claiming other resources such as bedrooms.

Example Sentences

shotgun seat

I call shotgun!

shotgun cartridges

You can't talk to a man / With a shotgun in his hand

Word Forms

• shotguns
• shot-gun
• shotgunning
• shotgunned

Synonyms for shotgun

Depending on context, synonyms include scattergun.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include scattergun, gun, rifle, firearm, musket, handgun.

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