gun carriage: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Specialised/Historical/Technical
Quick answer
What does “gun carriage” mean?
A wheeled support frame for a large artillery gun.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A wheeled support frame for a large artillery gun.
The mobile platform or mount upon which a cannon or other heavy firearm is placed for transportation and firing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences; term is identical and used in the same specific contexts.
Connotations
Evokes historical warfare, artillery, and military history equally in both variants.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language, slightly higher in UK and US military history texts.
Grammar
How to Use “gun carriage” in a Sentence
[The/An ADJ] gun carriage (VERB) (PREP the NOUN).They mounted/placed/positioned the cannon on a gun carriage.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gun carriage” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The historical team will gun-carriage the replica cannon for the parade. (rare, non-standard)
American English
- The reenactors gun-carriaged the howitzer into position. (rare, non-standard)
adverb
British English
- The cannon was moved gun-carriage slowly across the field. (highly non-standard)
American English
- It was transported gun-carriage style. (highly non-standard)
adjective
British English
- The gun-carriage wheels were made of solid oak.
American English
- They studied gun-carriage design in the Civil War.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in military history, historical studies, and museum studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in precise descriptions of artillery, historical reenactments, and museum curation.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gun carriage”
- Using it to refer to a vehicle that transports guns (a gun *truck* or *trailer*). A gun carriage is the integral firing platform.
- Confusing it with the projectile or the gun barrel itself.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A tank is a fully armoured, self-propelled fighting vehicle. A gun carriage is an unarmoured, usually horse-drawn or towed platform for a single artillery piece.
No. The term is specific to large, heavy artillery like cannons and howitzers. The frame of a small arm is called a 'stock' or 'receiver'.
It is used historically and for describing certain types of modern towed artillery, though the more general term 'artillery carriage' or specific model names are often preferred.
The gun carriage is the frame the gun sits on for firing. A limber is a separate two-wheeled cart attached to the front of the carriage to make it easier to transport, often carrying ammunition.
A wheeled support frame for a large artillery gun.
Gun carriage is usually specialised/historical/technical in register.
Gun carriage: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡʌn ˌkærɪdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡʌn ˌkærɪdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be/spin on a gun carriage (not a common idiom; potential historical metaphor for being a tool of power or being ceremonially transported).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'baby carriage' for a cannon: the 'gun carriage' carries the gun.
Conceptual Metaphor
A VEHICLE/FOUNDATION for power; a MOBILE PLATFORM for a destructive force.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'gun carriage' primarily?