gatling gun: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (C1/C2)Historical, military, technical, metaphorical (literary/journalistic).
Quick answer
What does “gatling gun” mean?
An early type of hand-cranked machine gun with multiple rotating barrels, invented by Richard Gatling.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An early type of hand-cranked machine gun with multiple rotating barrels, invented by Richard Gatling.
More broadly, any rapid-firing, multi-barrel weapon system, and metaphorically used to describe something that delivers a rapid, relentless, and overwhelming barrage or sequence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
None in core meaning. Spelling: 'Gatling gun' (capitalised 'G') is standard in both. US usage is slightly more frequent due to the inventor's nationality and historical context of the American Civil War/Western expansion.
Connotations
Historical military technology, the American Old West, early mechanised warfare. In both varieties, it connotes a relentless, somewhat archaic form of rapid fire.
Frequency
Rare in everyday speech. More likely encountered in historical texts, military history, or as a vivid metaphor.
Grammar
How to Use “gatling gun” in a Sentence
[Subject] fired/deployed/mounted a Gatling gun.[Subject] spoke/typed with Gatling-gun rapidity (metaphorical).The [sound/barrage] of a Gatling gun.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gatling gun” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Rare/Non-standard) The critic seemed to Gatling-gun his complaints at the hapless author.
American English
- (Rare/Non-standard) He Gatling-gunned a series of tweets about the policy.
adverb
British English
- (Highly rare/Non-standard) He spoke Gatling-gun fast.
American English
- (Highly rare/Non-standard) The data came in Gatling-gun quick.
adjective
British English
- He had a Gatling-gun delivery during the debate.
American English
- The reporter faced a Gatling-gun barrage of objections.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical: 'The marketing team unleashed a Gatling gun of promotional emails.'
Academic
In historical or military studies: 'The Gatling gun's deployment marked a shift towards automated firepower.'
Everyday
Very rare. Possibly in metaphor: 'He answered questions like a Gatling gun.'
Technical
In military history/engineering: 'The Gatling gun's rate of fire was achieved via a rotating cluster of barrels.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gatling gun”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gatling gun”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gatling gun”
- Incorrect spelling: 'Gattling', 'Gatlin'.
- Using it as a generic term for any modern machine gun.
- Pronouncing it /ˈɡeɪtlɪŋ/ instead of /ˈɡætlɪŋ/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it was first used in limited numbers by Union forces towards the end of the American Civil War.
No. It is an early type. Modern machine guns are typically automatic, powered by recoil or gas, not hand-cranked. The modern equivalent in principle is the electrically-driven rotary cannon.
It is named after its American inventor, Richard Jordan Gatling (1818–1903).
Yes, it's commonly used as a metaphor to describe a rapid, relentless, and overwhelming sequence of things, such as words, questions, or data.
An early type of hand-cranked machine gun with multiple rotating barrels, invented by Richard Gatling.
Gatling gun is usually historical, military, technical, metaphorical (literary/journalistic). in register.
Gatling gun: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡætlɪŋ ɡʌn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡætlɪŋ ˌɡən/ or /ˈɡætlɪŋ ˌɡʌn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Gatling-gun speech/rhetoric”
- “a Gatling gun of questions/criticism”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'GAT' sounds like 'GATher' bullets. A Gatling gun GAThers and fires many bullets very fast. Or: Richard GATling invented the GAT-ering gun.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUSTAINED RAPID ACTIVITY IS THE FIRE OF A GATLING GUN (e.g., of words, data, criticism).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate description of a Gatling gun?