Bren gun

or bren gun

[ bren ]

noun

1. a .303-caliber, gas-operated, air-cooled, clip-fed submachine gun.

Bren gun

/ brɛn /

noun

1. an air-cooled gas-operated light machine gun taking .303 calibre ammunition: used by British and Commonwealth forces in World War II

Word History and Origins

Origin of Bren gun¹

1935–40; Br(no) , Moravia + En ( field ), England, towns of manufacture

Word History and Origins

Origin of Bren gun¹

C20: after Br ( no ), now in the Czech Republic, where it was first made and En ( field ), England, where manufacture was continued

Example Sentences

Spur Camp, 2 May 43" provides a stark little companion to the painting, ending: "Not far away, up the line, Bren guns pummel hot air, men gasp and clutch, die casually, sweat and groan.

From The Guardian

Lest you get the wrong idea, the fingers typing this column were, believe it or not, once capable of stripping down and reassembling a Bren gun.

From The Guardian

At night they patrolled the streets in lorries equipped with twin Bren guns.��

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Downing shot out orders, threats, and penalties with the rapidity of a Bren gun.

From Project Gutenberg

To complete the course we hurled a few Mills bombs, fired a Bren gun, marched around a bit and behaved as soldiers were supposed to do and then we returned to our more sedentary duties.��

From Project Gutenberg