minigun

See also: mini-gun

English

Alternative forms

• mini-gun

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɪniˌɡʌn/
• Hyphenation: mini‧gun

Etymology 1

Minigun in use

mini- +‎ gun, so-called because General Electric designers scaled down the rotating-barrel 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon for 7.62×51mm ammunition (in order to create a weapon with a higher and more reliable rate of fire).

Noun

minigun (plural miniguns)

1. A machine gun with several rotating barrels, capable of firing several thousand rounds per minute.

Hypernyms

• gun
• machine gun
• rotary gun

 

Coordinate terms

• automatic cannon
• automatic gun
• cannon
• Gatling gun
• machine cannon
• rotary cannon

 

Etymology 2

Noun

minigun (plural miniguns)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see mini,‎ gun.