Gatling gun

American  

[gat-ling] / ˈgæt lɪŋ /

noun

1. an early type of machine gun consisting of a revolving cluster of barrels around a central axis, each barrel being automatically loaded and fired every revolution of the cluster.

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Gatling gun British  

/ ˈɡætlɪŋ /

noun

1. a hand-cranked automatic machine gun equipped with a rotating cluster of barrels that are fired in succession using brass cartridges

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Etymology

Origin of Gatling gun

1860–65, named after R. J. Gatling (1818–1903), U.S. inventor

Example Sentences

RTX’s Raytheon business has fielded inquiries about supply of its Phalanx rapid-fire Gatling gun, according to Jennifer Gauthier, Raytheon vice president for naval systems and sustainment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

Probably the construction of the rotating film in a camera came from the Gatling gun.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 19, 2025

The Gatling gun from the United States could fire three thousand bullets per minute.

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

Video from the engagement appears to show one drone engaged by an air defense system known as a C-RAM, which fires a six-barreled Gatling gun up to 75 rounds per second.

From Washington Post • Jan. 5, 2022

If my turn ever comes to face a Gatling gun I hope to march right up to it like a little man—but lorgnettes?

From Homeburg Memories by Fitch, George

Related Words

• submachine gun