minute-gun

A minute-gun fires at sea during a memorial service.

Definition

Noun: - A "minute-gun" is a gun fired at intervals of one minute, typically as a signal of distress or mourning during a funeral or memorial service.

Usage Examples

• (A gun was discharged every sixty seconds to indicate an emergency at sea.)
• (The ceremonial firing marked the solemn occasion with regular intervals.)

Advanced Usage

• "to fire a minute-gun": to discharge the weapon at precise one-minute intervals.
  • The navy tradition requires a minute-gun to be fired for each year of the deceased's service. (The gun is fired repeatedly, once per minute, to honor the individual.)

Variants and Related Words

• Minute (adj): very small in size or amount (not to be confused with the noun form referring to time).

  • The minute details of the ceremony were carefully planned. (The extremely fine points were attended to.)

• Gun (n): a weapon that shoots bullets or shells.

  • The soldier carried a gun for protection. (A firearm used in combat.)

Synonyms

• Signal gun: a gun used to send a visual or auditory signal.
• Distress gun: a gun specifically fired to indicate an emergency.

Related Idioms

• "Not a minute to lose": no time to waste; urgent.

  • There is not a minute to lose if we want to reach the ship before the storm. (We must act immediately.)

• "Jump the gun": to start something too early or before the proper time.

  • He jumped the gun by announcing the news before the official press release. (He acted prematurely.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Fire off: to discharge a weapon or send something quickly.

  • The crew fired off the minute-gun as the ship entered the harbor. (They shot the gun to signal their arrival.)

• Go off: to explode or be discharged.

  • The minute-gun went off exactly on the hour. (The gun fired precisely at the designated time.)