Thompson submachine gun

Thompson submachine gun
a portable, .45-caliber, automatic weapon designed to be fired from the shoulder or hip. Also called Tommy gun.
[1920-25; named after J. T. Thompson (1860-1940), American army officer who aided in its invention]

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      submachine gun patented in 1920 by its American designer, General John T. Thompson. The weapon became famous during the U.S. Prohibition era (1920–33) as the gun used by gangsters. Indeed it became so widely known in that era that it is commonly (but erroneously) believed to be the first submachine gun. It weighed almost 10 pounds (4.5 kg) empty and fired .45-calibre ammunition. The magazine was either a circular drum that held 50 rounds or a box that held 20 or 30 rounds.

      The U.S. Army adopted the Thompson submachine gun in 1928. Both the U.S. and British armies used it in World War II, as at various times have other armed forces. See also submachine gun.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Thompson submachine gun — ☆ Thompson submachine gun n. [after a co inventor, John T. Thompson (1860 1940), U.S. army officer] a type of submachine gun: see SUBMACHINE GUN …   English World dictionary

  • Thompson submachine-gun — /tom(p)ˈsən sub mə shēnˈgun/ noun A tommy gun (also Thompson gun) …   Useful english dictionary

  • Thompson submachine gun — Tommy gun redirects here. For other uses, see Tommy gun (disambiguation). For the Anti Aircraft gun nicknamed Chicago Piano, see 1.1 /75 caliber gun. Thompson Submachine Gun, Caliber .45 Wartime production variant …   Wikipedia

  • Thompson submachine gun — noun a .45 caliber submachine gun • Syn: ↑Tommy gun • Hypernyms: ↑submachine gun * * * noun Usage: usually capitalized T Etymology: after John T. Thompson died 1940 American army officer who invented it in collaboration with John Blish died 1921… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Thompson submachine gun — Thomp′son submachine′ gun n. mil a.45 caliber automatic weapon designed to be fired from the shoulder or hip Also called Tommy gun Etymology: 1920–25; after John T. Thompson (1860–1940), American army officer who aided in its invention …   From formal English to slang

  • Thompson submachine gun — noun Etymology: John T. Thompson died 1940 American army officer Date: 1920 a .45 caliber submachine gun with a drum or stick magazine, a pistol grip, and a detachable buttstock …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Thompson submachine gun — noun a .45 caliber American submachine gun, having a wooden stock and a drum or box magazine Syn: Chicago typewriter, chopper, Tommy gun …   Wiktionary

  • Thompson Submachine gun — Thompson (pistolet mitrailleur) Pour les articles homonymes, voir Thompson. Une version civile de la Thompson tenue par un caporal britannique …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Submachine gun — A submachine gun (SMG) is a firearm that combines the automatic fire of a machine gun with the cartridge of a pistol, and is usually between the two in weight and size.AdvantagesSubmachine guns, like shotguns, are ideal for close range combat in… …   Wikipedia

  • submachine gun — /sub meuh sheen / a lightweight automatic or semiautomatic gun, fired from the shoulder or hip. [1915 20; SUB + MACHINE GUN] * * * Lightweight automatic small arms weapon chambered for relatively low energy pistol cartridges and fired from the… …   Universalium

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