shotgun
Noun: 1. A type of firearm: A long gun with a smooth bore (not rifled) designed to be fired from the shoulder. It typically fires a large number of small pellets (shot) or a single solid projectile (slug) over a relatively short range. Traditionally, many shotguns have two barrels (double-barreled).
The word "shotgun" refers specifically to the firearm. It is used as a countable noun. * He keeps a shotgun for hunting birds on his property. * The police officer secured the shotgun found at the scene. * A classic double-barreled shotgun was displayed above the fireplace.
- "Ride shotgun": This idiom means to ride in the front passenger seat of a vehicle. It originates from the historical practice of having an armed guard with a shotgun ride next to the driver for protection.
- On our road trip, I call riding shotgun!
- "Shotgun approach/method": A strategy characterized by trying many things broadly in the hope that one will succeed, analogous to firing a spread of shot.
- Instead of targeted marketing, they used a shotgun approach, sending ads to everyone.
- Shotgunner (n): A person who uses a shotgun.
- Shotgunning (n/gerund): The act of firing a shotgun. (Note: Also a slang term for consuming a drink very quickly).
- Sawed-off shotgun (n): A shotgun with its barrel(s) shortened, often illegally.
- Fowling piece (archaic, specifically for bird hunting)
- Scattergun (informal)
- Shotgun wedding/marriage: A forced or hurried marriage, historically due to pregnancy, metaphorically implying coercion as if by a shotgun.
- Rumors spread that it was a shotgun wedding.
The core meaning is the firearm. The other common uses ("ride shotgun," "shotgun approach," "shotgun wedding") are all idiomatic extensions based on the characteristics (passenger seat guard, wide spread, coercion) associated with the weapon.
- firearm that is a double-barreled smoothbore shoulder weapon for firing shot at short ranges