sawed-off shotgun

[ sawd-awf shot-guhn, -of ]

noun

1. a shotgun having a shorter barrel than a standard shotgun:

   The informants had seen shell casings on the stairs and a sawed-off shotgun in the cellar.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sawed-off shotgun¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

The burglar was a career criminal, just out of prison after robbing a liquor store with a sawed-off shotgun.

From The Daily Beast

Her aunt had commented on the fact that Clint had taken from the wall a sawed-off shotgun he sometimes carried by his saddle.

From Project Gutenberg

George Ashby lay on the ground bound as he had been left, his sawed-off shotgun not far away and his belt full of shells.

From Project Gutenberg

George Ashby's sawed-off shotgun looked squarely at the region bounded by Jeff Moore's belt.

From Project Gutenberg

From its case beneath his leg he took the sawed-off shotgun loaded with buckshot.

From Project Gutenberg

About thirty yards up the street a sawed-off shotgun goes off.

From Project Gutenberg