shotgun

Meaning

Noun

1. A gun which fires loads typically consisting of small metal balls, called shot, from a cartridge.
2. (slang) The front passenger seat in a vehicle, next to the driver; so called because the position of the shotgun-armed guard on a horse-drawn stage-coach, wagon train, or gold transport was next to the driver on a forward-mounted bench seat. Can also be used in situations of claiming other resources such as bedrooms.
3. A one-story dwelling with no hallways or corridors, with the rooms arranged in a straight line.
4. An offensive formation in which the quarterback receives the snap at a distance behind the center, often with a running back set to one or both sides of him.
5. Relating to shotguns, either in a present or past sense.
6. Relating to the threat of force or dubious means.
7. Relating to the use of numerous, diverse or indiscriminate means to achieve a particular result.

Verb

1. (slang) To inhale from a pipe or other smoking device, followed shortly by an exhalation into someone else’s mouth.
2. (informal) To verbally lay claim to (something)
3. To hit the ball directly back at the pitcher.
4. (slang) To rapidly drink a beverage from a can by making a hole in the bottom of the can, placing the hole above one's mouth, and opening the top.
5. (slang) To send out many (requests, answers to a question, etc), especially in the hope that one obtains a positive result (i.e. reveals useful information, is correct, etc), in the manner of a shotgun firing many balls of shot such that one may hit a target.
6. (slang) To employ the technique of shotgun debugging.

Synonyms

rifle

gun

🔫

scattergun

fowling piece

sporting gun

babble

high gun

chatterbox

pocket-knife

shot gun

Hyphenated as

shot‧gun

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈʃɒtɡʌn/

Etymology

From shot + gun. Front passenger seat sense comes from ride shotgun.