Gatling

A gatling is a type of repeating, crank-operated machine gun invented by Richard Jordan gatling in 1861. It is characterized by multiple barrels rotating around a central axis, each barrel firing a single round during each rotation. The gatling gun's continuous firing mechanism allowed for a high rate of fire, making it a significant advancement in weaponry during its time. While it's often associated with the American Civil War and the colonial era, modern variants and principles still find use in some applications.

Gatling meaning with examples

• During the siege, the defenders frantically manned the hastily erected fortifications, their only weapon the gatling gun. Its rapid fire tore through the ranks of the attackers. The intense sound of the gatling, punctuated by the screams of soldiers, made a dreadful environment.
• The history buff was fascinated by the evolution of the gatling gun, from its early hand-cranked versions to the more sophisticated electrically powered variants. He knew all about the use of this device and its effect on many wars.
• In the historical reenactment, the crowd watched in awe as the soldier demonstrated the operation of a gatling gun, explaining its mechanics and its strategic impact on warfare. He wanted them to appreciate what this technology had.
• The novel vividly described the bloody battle, with the relentless chatter of a gatling gun dominating the battlefield, mowing down waves of charging soldiers. The gatling gun was used extensively, changing the course of the war.
• The movie depicted a scene of the gatling gun in action during a cavalry charge, its rapid fire turning the battlefield into a killing field, thus changing many minds about the course of war in that time.