See Also: shotgun(dictionary)
shotgun(encyclopedia)
shotgun(dictionary)
Shotgun(money)
shotgun method(medicine)
Shotgun - Poker(gambling)
sawn-off shotgun(dictionary)
shotgun wedding(dictionary)
Shotgun Formation - Football(gambling)
Double-Barreled Shotgun - Poker(gambling)

shotgun (iou)



shotgun noun, adjective, & verb. Orig. US. E19.
[from SHOT noun1 + GUN noun.]
A. noun.
A smooth-bore gun for firing small shot at short range, a fowling-piece. E19.
ride shotgun: see RIDE verb.
ellipt. A shotgun house or other building; a shotgun formation. US. M20.
b. attrib. or as adjective.
Of, pertaining to, or resembling a shotgun. L19.
b. spec. Designating a house or other building with rooms on either side of a long central hallway. US. M20.
fig. Made or done hastily or under pressure of necessity. M20.
Special collocations & comb.: shotgun formation Amer. Football an offensive formation to facilitate passing in which the quarterback is positioned some yards behind the centre and the other backs are stationed to act as pass receivers or blockers. shotgun marriage = shotgun wedding below; shotgun microphone a highly directional microphone with a long barrel to be directed towards a distant source of sound; shotgun wedding colloq. (orig. US) an enforced or hurried wedding esp. because of the bride's pregnancy.
C. verb trans. Infl. -nn-.
Shoot with a shotgun. colloq. (orig. & chiefly US). L19.
Force as if with a shotgun; bring about forcibly. colloq. (orig. & chiefly US). M20.