set gun
Noun: A set gun is a type of firearm that is rigged to discharge automatically when a hidden wire or tripwire is disturbed by an intruder or animal. It functions as a concealed, unattended trap.
The term "set gun" is used to describe a specific, dangerous type of trap. It is most commonly discussed in historical contexts, legal warnings, or discussions about hunting and property protection. - The old trapper warned us about the dangers of a set gun left in the woods. - Using a set gun to protect property is illegal in most jurisdictions due to the indiscriminate danger it poses.
- As a concept in law and safety: The term is often used in legal texts and safety manuals to denote an illegal or highly dangerous booby trap.
- The statute specifically prohibited the use of a set gun or any similar device.
- Spring-gun: A near-synonymous term for a gun set as a trap, often using a spring mechanism.
- Booby trap: A broader category of hidden traps, which can include set guns as one type.
- Tripwire: The triggering mechanism (a wire) that activates a set gun or other trap.
- Trap gun
- Spring-gun
The use of a set gun is widely condemned and illegal in many areas because it cannot discriminate between an intruder, an animal, or an innocent person. It represents a significant safety hazard.
- a gun that is set to fire on any intruder that comes in contact with the wire that sets it off