shotgun

firearmsA gun which fires loads typically consisting of small metal balls, called shot, from a cartridge.

“Meat was cooked up within hours after the hunter killed the deer with his shotgun.”

slangThe front passenger seat in a vehicle, next to the driver; so called because the position of the shotgun-armed guard on a horse-drawn stage-coach, wagon train, or gold transport was next to the driver on a forward-mounted bench seat. Can also be used in situations of claiming other resources such as bedrooms.

“I call shotgun! ― I claim the right to sit in the passenger seat.”

“I call shotgun! ― I claim the right to this bedroom etc.”

USespecially southern usA one-story dwelling with no hallways or corridors, with the rooms arranged in a straight line.

“Elvis Presley was born in a two-bedroom shotgun in Tupelo, Mississippi.”

american footballAn offensive formation in which the quarterback receives the snap at a distance behind the center, often with a running back set to one or both sides of him.

attributiveas a modifierRelating to shotguns, either in a present or past sense.

“shotgun cartridges”

“shotgun seat”

attributiveas a modifierRelating to the threat of force or dubious means.

“shotgun wedding”

“shotgun diplomacy”

attributiveas a modifierRelating to the use of numerous, diverse or indiscriminate means to achieve a particular result.

“shotgun marketing”

“shotgun approach”

Firearm that is a double-barreled smoothbore shoulder weapon for firing shot at short ranges

slangsmokingTo inhale from a pipe or other smoking device, followed shortly by an exhalation into someone else’s mouth.

informalTo verbally lay claim to (something)

“I got a day off because I shotgunned it.”

baseballTo hit the ball directly back at the pitcher.

USslangTo rapidly drink a beverage from a can by making a hole in the bottom of the can, placing the hole above one's mouth, and opening the top.

USslangTo send out many (requests, answers to a question, etc), especially in the hope that one obtains a positive result (i.e. reveals useful information, is correct, etc), in the manner of a shotgun firing many balls of shot such that one may hit a target.

computingslangTo employ the technique of shotgun debugging.