shotgun
UK: ˈʃɒtɡʌn | US: ˈʃɑːtɡʌn
n. a firearm designed to fire a cluster of small pellets (shot) in a single discharge
n. (colloquial) the front passenger seat of a vehicle
vt. (informal) to shoot or attack with a shotgun
adj. (attributive) denoting a rapid or forceful approach (e.g., "shotgun wedding")
The term "shotgun" emerged in the early 19th century, combining "shot" (small metal pellets used as ammunition) and "gun" (a tubular firearm). The logic is straightforward: a gun designed to fire "shot" rather than a single bullet. The colloquial sense of the car seat (early 20th century) derives from stagecoach guards who rode upfront with shotguns for protection. The verb and adjectival uses extend the idea of forceful or immediate action, metaphorically linked to the weapon's rapid discharge.
The hunter loaded his shotgun before entering the forest.
She called dibs on the shotgun seat for the road trip.
The bandit was shotgunned by the sheriff during the standoff.
They had a shotgun wedding after discovering the pregnancy.
The team took a shotgun approach to marketing, targeting multiple demographics at once.