minute gun: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal; Technical (Maritime, Military, Ceremonial)
Quick answer
What does “minute gun” mean?
A gun fired at one-minute intervals, typically as a signal of distress from a ship at sea or as a mark of respect during a military or state funeral.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A gun fired at one-minute intervals, typically as a signal of distress from a ship at sea or as a mark of respect during a military or state funeral.
A ceremonial or signaling practice where a single gun is discharged repeatedly at fixed, one-minute intervals, creating a slow, solemn rhythm. It is a specific type of saluting gunfire distinct from a volley.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The practice and term are identical in both maritime and military traditions of the UK and US.
Connotations
Solemnity, ceremony, tradition, distress, mourning, respect.
Frequency
Equally rare in everyday language in both varieties, but equally known within naval, military, and historical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “minute gun” in a Sentence
The ship fired a minute gun.A minute gun was sounded.They heard the minute gun in the harbour.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “minute gun” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The Royal Navy vessel will minute-gun as the procession passes.
American English
- The Coast Guard cutter minute-gunned for an hour after the mayday call.
adverb
British English
- The cannon fired minute-gun slowly.
American English
- The shots rang out minute-gun for the fallen president.
adjective
British English
- The minute-gun salute echoed across the Solent.
American English
- They observed the minute-gun ceremony from the shore.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, maritime history, or military studies texts describing naval ceremonies or distress signals.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be encountered in historical fiction, news reports of state funerals, or documentaries.
Technical
Precise term in naval/military protocol and maritime signalling for a specific type of gun salute or distress signal.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “minute gun”
- Misspelling as 'minute' (meaning small) gun. Confusing it with a '21-gun salute' (which is a different protocol). Using it to describe any slow-firing gun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A 21-gun salute is a specific honor rendered by firing guns in a single volley or in rapid succession. A minute gun involves a single gun fired repeatedly at one-minute intervals, creating a slower, tolling effect, often for mourning or distress.
It is named for the time interval between shots – one minute. The word 'minute' here is pronounced the same as the unit of time (/ˈmɪnɪt/), not like 'my-noot' meaning small.
Extremely rarely. Its usage is almost exclusively confined to descriptions of naval/military ceremonies, historical accounts, and maritime distress signalling. You would not use it in everyday conversation.
Yes, though it's specialist usage. You can say a ship 'minute-gunned' as a distress signal or to render honours. It follows the pattern of other noun-to-verb conversions in English (e.g., 'to text').
A gun fired at one-minute intervals, typically as a signal of distress from a ship at sea or as a mark of respect during a military or state funeral.
Minute gun is usually formal; technical (maritime, military, ceremonial) in register.
Minute gun: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɪnɪt ɡʌn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɪnɪt ɡʌn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly; the term itself is a fixed phrase.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a clock ticking: one 'minute' passes, then a 'gun' fires. It's a timed, rhythmic signal, not a rapid burst of gunfire.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME AS A MEASURE OF RESPECT/DISTRESS (The regular, slow passage of time marked by the gunfire embodies solemnity or urgency).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a 'minute gun' in a modern context?