shotgun

Meanings

Noun

• A gun which fires loads typically consisting of small metal balls, called shot, from a cartridge.
• The 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.
• A one-story dwelling with no hallways or corridors, with the rooms arranged in a straight line.
• An 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.
• Relating to shotguns, either in a present or past sense.
• Relating to the threat of force or dubious means.
• Relating to the use of numerous, diverse or indiscriminate means to achieve a particular result.

Verb

• To inhale from a pipe or other smoking device, followed shortly by an exhalation into someone else’s mouth.
• To verbally lay claim to (something)
• To hit the ball directly back at the pitcher.
• To 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.
• To 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.
• To employ the technique of shotgun debugging.

Origin

• From shot + gun. Front passenger seat sense comes from ride shotgun.