gun carriage
Definition
Noun: A gun carriage is a wheeled framework or mount designed to support and transport a cannon or artillery piece, enabling it to be moved into position and fired.
Usage
The term "gun carriage" specifically refers to the mobile platform for a cannon. It is a historical and military term. * The soldiers maneuvered the heavy cannon onto its gun carriage. * Restoration of the historic fort included the wooden gun carriage for the coastal defense gun.
Advanced Usage
- In historical contexts, a gun carriage often refers to the specific, often ornate, wooden or metal structure with large wheels used for field artillery in the 18th and 19th centuries.
- The design of a gun carriage is crucial for absorbing recoil and allowing for the elevation and traversal of the gun barrel.
Variants and Related Words
- Artillery carriage: A more general modern term.
- Caisson: A two-wheeled chest or wagon for carrying ammunition, often attached to a gun carriage.
- Limber: A detachable front part of a gun carriage, which holds an ammunition chest and is attached to horses or a vehicle for towing.
Synonyms
- Cannon mount
- Artillery platform
- Gun mount
Related Phrases
- To spike the guns on their carriages: A historical phrase meaning to disable enemy artillery by driving a spike into the touchhole, rendering the gun on its carriage useless.
Noun
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a framework on which a gun is mounted for firing
