Maxim gun

noun

an early single-barreled, water-cooled machine gun cocked by the force of its own recoil.

Maxim gun

/ ˈmæksɪm /

an obsolete water-cooled machine gun having a single barrel and utilizing the recoil force of each shot to maintain automatic fire

First recorded in 1880–85; after H. S. Maxim

C19: named after Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim (1840–1916), its US-born British inventor

The former (a), which is cylindrical in form, contains the barrel (b), and the water surrounding it Maxim Gun.

His shots rang out like the rattle of a maxim gun, so swiftly did he empty the six chambers.

Somewhat later a Maxim gun opened on the bivouac, but failed to get our range.

On one occasion a Vickers-Maxim gun was directed at an ambulance, which at the time was fortunately unoccupied.

The Maxim gun went with the leading company, and, under charge of Captain Green, operated on its left.

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