Lexic.us

Definition of Shotgun

1. Noun. Firearm that is a double-barreled smoothbore shoulder weapon for firing shot at short ranges.

Definition of Shotgun

1. n. A light, smooth- bored gun, often double-barreled, especially designed for firing small shot at short range, and killing small game.

Definition of Shotgun

1. Noun. A gun which fires loads consisting of small metal balls, called shot, from a cartridge. ¹

2. Noun. (slang) The front passenger seat in a vehicle, next to the driver; so called because the position of the shotgun-armed guard on a horse-drawn stage-coach, wagon train, or gold transport was next to the driver on a forward-mounted bench seat. ¹

3. Noun. (American English) A one-story dwelling with no hallways or corridors, with the rooms arranged in a straight line. Mostly heard in the southern United States. ¹

4. Noun. (American football) A play formation in which the quarterback is a few feet behind the snapper when the ball is hiked, ideally allowing for an easier pass play. ¹

5. Verb. (slang smoking) To inhale from a pipe or other smoking device, followed shortly by an exhalation into someone else’s mouth. ¹

6. Verb. (transitive informal) To verbally lay claim to (something) ¹

7. Verb. (transitive baseball) To hit the ball directly back at the pitcher. ¹

8. Verb. (US slang) To rapidly drink a beverage from a can by making a hole in the bottom of the can, placing the hole above one's mouth, and opening the top. ¹

9. Adjective. Of or relating to a shotgun. ¹

10. Adjective. Occurring as a result of the threat of force. ¹

11. Adjective. Utilizing numerous or highly diverse means to achieve a particular result. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Shotgun

1. to shoot with a type of gun [v -GUNNED, -GUNNING, -GUNS]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Shotgun

Literary usage of Shotgun

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Recreation by George O. Shields, American Canoe Association, League of American Sportsmen (1899)
"A large percentage of the shooters cannot understand why a smokeless powder which gives good results in a shotgun should not do equally well in a rifle. ..."

2. Sporting Firearms of Today in Use by Paul Allan Curtis (1922)
"CHAPTER VIII THE shotgun OF THE FUTURE WHILE the rifle has progressed by leaps and bounds in the past decade, we must confess that the shotgun has, ..."

3. The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the by Charles George Herbermann, Edward Aloysius Pace, Condé Bénoist Pallen, Thomas Joseph Shahan, John Joseph Wynne (1913)
"... one who fires a shotgun into the public thoroughfare, whilst protesting that he has no wish to work any mischief, is, nevertheless, obviously to be ..."

4. Seal and Salmon Fisheries and General Resources of Alaska by David Starr Jordan, Henry Wood Elliott, Washburn Maynard, Sheldon Jackson, William Gouverneur Morris, Ivan Petroff, Charles Haskins Townsend, Frederick William True, John J. Brice, Leonhard Stejneger (1898)
"Have always used a shotgun and rifle in taking seal since a young man. ... Have always used a shotgun for taking seal, and lose about 40 per cent of what I ..."

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