swivel gun

English

Noun

swivel gun (plural swivel guns)

1. A small cannon attached to a swivel or pivot. It was usually located on a ship's rail so it could have a large range of fire, and could fire anything ranging from small round balls of lead to cannon balls.
   • 1881, Thomas Wilhelm, A Military Dictionary and Gazetteer:

     On this roof a heavy swivel-gun was to be placed to command shipping, while howitzers on each side were to form a flanking defense in connection with the neighboring towers.

References

• South Seas Companion