gatling: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialized / Historical
Quick answer
What does “gatling” mean?
A type of machine gun with multiple barrels that rotate and fire in succession.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of machine gun with multiple barrels that rotate and fire in succession.
Any weapon or device operating on a principle of rapid, sequential firing from multiple barrels.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally recognized in both varieties.
Connotations
Historical invention; often evokes imagery of the American Civil War, colonial conflicts, and early automatic weapons.
Frequency
Equally rare in both dialects, found primarily in historical or military texts.
Grammar
How to Use “gatling” in a Sentence
the [Noun] gatlinga [Adjective] gatling gunVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gatling” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The position was gatlinged with relentless fire.
- He gatlinged accusations at his opponent.
American English
- The fort was gatlinged during the assault.
- She gatlinged a series of complaints.
adverb
British English
- The questions came gatling-fast.
- He spoke gatling-quick during the debate.
American English
- The data streamed in gatling-style.
- She typed gatling-fast to meet the deadline.
adjective
British English
- The gatling mechanism was revolutionary.
- They faced gatling fire from the ridge.
American English
- The Gatling prototype is in the museum.
- He built a gatling-style device for the project.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in history and military technology papers.
Everyday
Rarely used; if so, as a metaphor for rapid speech or action.
Technical
Used in military engineering and historical weaponry contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gatling”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gatling”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gatling”
- Misspelling as 'Gattling' or 'Gatlin'.
- Using it as a generic term for any machine gun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's a specialized historical/technical term. Most people encounter it in history books, museums, or as a metaphor for rapid speech/action.
A Gatling gun is manually cranked (or later powered) to rotate its barrels, each firing once per revolution. Modern machine guns are typically automatic, using gas, recoil, or electric power to cycle a single barrel.
Yes, but it's highly informal and metaphorical. It means to deliver something (words, fire, etc.) in a rapid, continuous burst, like the firing of a Gatling gun.
It has a hard 'g' sound, like in 'gun' (/ɡ/), not a soft 'g' like in 'gentle'.
A type of machine gun with multiple barrels that rotate and fire in succession.
Gatling is usually specialized / historical in register.
Gatling: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡætlɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡætlɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “like a Gatling gun (talking very rapidly and incessantly)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'GATLING' as 'GAT' (slang for gun) + 'LING' (small thing) – a small-gun device that became a big gun.
Conceptual Metaphor
RAPID FIRE IS A GATLING GUN (e.g., 'She unleashed a Gatling gun of questions').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary defining feature of a Gatling gun?