six-gun: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowLiterary, Historical, Western genre
Quick answer
What does “six-gun” mean?
A revolver with six chambers for cartridges.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A revolver with six chambers for cartridges.
A historical or literary term for a cowboy's six-chambered handgun, evoking the culture of the American frontier.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively associated with American history and culture. In British English, it's a recognized but rarely used borrowed term, mainly found in historical or genre contexts.
Connotations
In American English: Frontier, Wild West, cowboy, individualism, lawlessness/justice. In British English: Exotic Americanism, film/TV Westerns.
Frequency
Far more frequent in American English, but still a low-frequency, specialized term.
Grammar
How to Use “six-gun” in a Sentence
The [possessive] six-gun [action: fired/roared/spun]A six-gun [location: in his holster/on his hip]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “six-gun” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The actor was taught how to six-gun for the role.
American English
- He could six-gun a target faster than anyone in the county.
adjective
British English
- The film had a classic six-gun duel at the climax.
American English
- He lived by a fading code of six-gun justice.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical texts on the American West or cultural studies.
Everyday
Extremely rare; might be used playfully or in specific references to Westerns.
Technical
Not a modern firearms technical term; 'revolver' or specific model names are preferred.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “six-gun”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “six-gun”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “six-gun”
- Using 'six-gun' to refer to any modern pistol. It is specific to revolvers of a certain historical era.
- Spelling as a single word 'sixgun' (while sometimes seen, the hyphenated form is standard in dictionaries).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, for all practical purposes they are synonymous. 'Six-shooter' is slightly more common in casual American speech.
It can be, but it sounds archaic or stylistic. 'Revolver' is the neutral, modern term. 'Six-gun' deliberately evokes the 19th-century American West.
No, these are not standard terms. Revolvers can have 5, 7, or 8 chambers, but the cultural archetype fixed on the six-chambered model, making 'six-gun' a specific cultural term, not just a numerical description.
Not inherently, but like any term for a weapon, its connotation depends entirely on context. It can glorify violence or neutrally describe a historical artifact.
A revolver with six chambers for cartridges.
Six-gun is usually literary, historical, western genre in register.
Six-gun: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɪksˌɡʌn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɪksˌɡʌn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A six-gun for every man”
- “Fast on the draw with a six-gun”
- “Talking with a six-gun”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SIX bullets in a SIX-gun – think of the classic cowboy image of a man with a gun on each hip (that's 12 bullets total).
Conceptual Metaphor
LAW/ORDER/CHANGE IS ENFORCED WITH A SIX-GUN (e.g., 'He imposed his will with the power of his six-gun').
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'six-gun' most specifically?