noun
Gatling
Gatling (noun) means a rapid-fire gun with several rotating barrels, an early forerunner of the modern machine gun. Example: “The museum display included a Civil War-era gatling mounted on a wagon carriage.”
noun
1
A rapid-fire gun with several rotating barrels, an early forerunner of the modern machine gun.
"The museum display included a Civil War-era gatling mounted on a wagon carriage."
How to use Gatling
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA hand-cranked, multi-barrel rapid-fire gun from the 1800s.
Common pairings
gatling gun
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Word forms
- Plural
- Gatlings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The museum display included a Civil War-era _____ mounted on a wagon carriage.
Etymology
Named after Richard Gatling, the American inventor who patented the gun in 1862.
Frequently asked questions
What does “Gatling” mean?
The word “Gatling” means a rapid-fire gun with several rotating barrels, an early forerunner of the modern machine gun. In plain terms, a hand-cranked, multi-barrel rapid-fire gun from the 1800s.
How do you use “Gatling” in a sentence?
Here is “Gatling” used in a sentence: “The museum display included a Civil War-era gatling mounted on a wagon carriage.”
What part of speech is “Gatling”?
“Gatling” is a noun.
Where does the word “Gatling” come from?
The word “Gatling” dates back to around 1862. Named after Richard Gatling, the American inventor who patented the gun in 1862.
