maxim gun: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Historical / Technical / Specialised
Quick answer
What does “maxim gun” mean?
A fully automatic, recoil-operated, water-cooled machine gun, the first true self-powered machine gun, invented by Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim in 1884.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A fully automatic, recoil-operated, water-cooled machine gun, the first true self-powered machine gun, invented by Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim in 1884.
A historical weapon that symbolised colonial power and mechanised warfare in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; often used as a historical reference point for early automatic weapons technology and imperial military campaigns.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical and equally historical/specialised in both varieties.
Connotations
Strong historical connotations of British Empire military campaigns and WWI warfare in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in everyday language, appearing almost exclusively in historical texts, documentaries, or military history contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “maxim gun” in a Sentence
The [military force] deployed Maxim guns.Hiram Maxim invented the Maxim gun.The Maxim gun was used in [conflict].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “maxim gun” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The regiment was Maxim-gunned during the colonial campaign.
- They Maxim-gunned the advancing troops.
American English
- The positions were Maxim-gunned from the hill.
- He described being Maxim-gunned in his memoirs.
adverb
British English
- The attack proceeded Maxim-gun style.
- They fired Maxim-gun fast.
American English
- The enemy fell Maxim-gun quickly.
- He described the sound Maxim-gun loudly.
adjective
British English
- The Maxim-gun technology revolutionised warfare.
- A Maxim-gun emplacement was strategically vital.
American English
- The Maxim-gun fire was relentless.
- They studied Maxim-gun tactics.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; only in contexts of antique arms dealing or historical documentaries.
Academic
Used in military history, colonial studies, and history of technology papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in precise historical descriptions of weapons and warfare technology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “maxim gun”
- Writing 'maxim gun' in lowercase (it is a proper noun).
- Using it as a generic term for any modern machine gun.
- Misspelling as 'Maxium' or 'Maximum' gun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim, an American-born British inventor, in 1884.
No. The Gatling gun is an earlier, hand-cranked, multi-barrel weapon. The Maxim gun was the first fully automatic, self-powered (recoil-operated) machine gun.
From its adoption in the late 1880s through World War I, after which it was largely superseded by newer designs like the Vickers and Browning machine guns.
It represented a major leap in weapons technology, enabling sustained automatic fire and profoundly impacting military tactics, colonial conquests, and the nature of warfare in the early 20th century.
A fully automatic, recoil-operated, water-cooled machine gun, the first true self-powered machine gun, invented by Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim in 1884.
Maxim gun is usually historical / technical / specialised in register.
Maxim gun: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmæksɪm ɡʌn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmæksɪm ɡʌn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MAXimised firepower: The MAXim gun was the MAXimum in automatic fire for its time.
Conceptual Metaphor
An instrument of overwhelming force and technological dominance.
Practice
Quiz
What is a defining technical feature of the original Maxim gun?