shotgun English · revision 39553

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1776}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * UK: /ˈʃɒtɡʌn/^(Wiktionary)

+ * US: /ˈʃɑtɡʌn/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|en|shot|gun|t1=small lead pellets]], originally American.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024)^(Dictionary.com 2016) The noun [[shot]] had been used for lead in small pellets since 1770, according to Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A smooth-bore gun for firing small shot, as distinguished from a rifle, which fires a bullet.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster dates it to 1776 and Dictionary.com to 1770–80;^(MWU 2024)^(Dictionary.com 2016) Etymonline's first record is from 1821 and the OED's from 1828, in J. Hall's ''Letters from the West''.^(Etymonline)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Because a shotgun scatters its shot at close range, the word came to describe anything forced or hasty: the ''shotgun wedding'', a marriage forced on the couple, is recorded in American English by 1903,^(Etymonline) and the adjective "made or done hastily or under pressure" from 1937.^(OED 2026)^(HTOED) Merriam-Webster also records a sense "covering a wide field with hit-or-miss effectiveness".^(MWU 2024)^(AHD 2024) The custom of an armed guard sitting next to the driver of a stagecoach in the American West gave ''ride shotgun'' (by 1905).^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024) Since 1940 ''shotgun'' alone has named the front passenger seat of a car, or the call by which someone claims it.^(OED 2026)^(GDoS) A ''shotgun house'', with its rooms opening off a long central hall in a line, is recorded from 1938,^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) and the shotgun formation in American football by 1966.^(Etymonline) The verb, "to shoot with a shotgun", is found from about 1880, and "to force as if at gunpoint" from about 1961;^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024) in student slang to ''shotgun'' a beer is to drink a whole can in one go (1986).^(GDoS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1776 – the gun, in Merriam-Webster's dating;^(MWU 2024) 1821 in Etymonline's, 1828 in the OED's.^(Etymonline)^(OED 2026)

+ * a1880 – the verb, to shoot with a shotgun.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1903 – ''shotgun wedding''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1905 – ''ride shotgun''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1937 – done hastily or under pressure.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1938 – a shotgun house.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1940 – the front passenger seat of a vehicle.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1966 – the football formation.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1986 – to drink a can of beer in one swallow.^(GDoS)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A smooth-bore [[gun]], often double-barrelled, that fires [[shot]] over short ranges.^(AHD 2024)^(MWU 2024)

+ # (American football) An offensive formation in which the [[quarterback]] stands several yards behind the line of scrimmage to receive the snap.^(AHD 2024)^(MWU 2024)

+ # (North America, informal) The front passenger seat of a car; also used as an exclamation to claim it: ''Shotgun!'' she called as they reached the van.^(OED 2026)^(AHD 2024)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of, relating to, or using a shotgun.^(AHD 2024)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Obtained or carried out under [[coercion]] or in haste: ''a shotgun deal between the two firms''.^(AHD 2024)^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+ # Covering a wide range in a haphazard way.^(AHD 2024)^(MWU 2024)

+ # (US) Of a house: with its rooms in a line along a long central passage.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To shoot with a shotgun.^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+ # To force as if by threat of arms.^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+ # (slang) To drink (a can of beer) in one swallow.^(GDoS)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[shotgunner]]

+ * [[shotgun wedding]]

+ * [[shotgun marriage]]

+ * [[shotgun microphone]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}