six-shooter: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialist (historical/weapons), literary, informal
Quick answer
What does “six-shooter” mean?
A type of handgun, specifically a revolver, designed to hold and fire six cartridges.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of handgun, specifically a revolver, designed to hold and fire six cartridges.
Used broadly as a metonym for a cowboy-era revolver or a symbol of the American Old West. Sometimes used metaphorically to describe something powerful and direct.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term with the same meaning. However, its cultural and historical associations are primarily with American history and Western films.
Connotations
UK: Strongly associated with American pop culture, Westerns. US: Evokes national history, frontier mythology, and iconic imagery of cowboys and lawmen.
Frequency
Used more frequently in US English due to its cultural relevance, but overall frequency is low in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “six-shooter” in a Sentence
[Subject] drew his six-shooter.The [Descriptor] six-shooter was holstered.[Person] carried a six-shooter.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “six-shooter” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He had a six-shooter mentality.
- It was a six-shooter duel.
American English
- He had a six-shooter attitude.
- It was a classic six-shooter showdown.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in historical texts discussing 19th-century American weaponry or frontier culture.
Everyday
Rare; might be used playfully or in a historical/Western-themed conversation.
Technical
A dated, non-technical term; modern firearms experts would use specific model names (e.g., Colt Single Action Army).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “six-shooter”
- Using it as a generic term for any modern pistol. Spelling as 'sixshooter' without a hyphen.
- Pronouncing 'shooter' as /ˈʃɔːtə/ (like 'short') instead of /ˈʃuːtə/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It's a specific, historical type of revolver that holds six cartridges, most famously used in the 19th-century American West. Modern pistols can have different mechanisms and capacities.
They are essentially synonyms, both referring to a six-chambered revolver. 'Six-gun' is slightly more informal and evocative of cowboy slang.
No, 'six-shooter' is exclusively a noun. You cannot 'six-shooter' something.
The hyphen compounds the number and the noun, creating a single, clear compound noun. Writing it as 'six shooter' is less standard and can be ambiguous.
A type of handgun, specifically a revolver, designed to hold and fire six cartridges.
Six-shooter is usually specialist (historical/weapons), literary, informal in register.
Six-shooter: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɪks ʃuːtə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɪks ʃuːtər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's quick on the draw with a six-shooter.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'SIX' bullets, 'SHOOTER' gun = A six-shooter. It's a classic gun from the days of the Wild West.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SIX-SHOOTER IS A TOOL OF JUSTICE/LAWLESSNESS (depending on context).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary cultural association of a 'six-shooter'?