Maxim gun

noun

1. an early single-barreled, water-cooled machine gun cocked by the force of its own recoil.

Maxim gun

/ ˈmæksɪm /

noun

1. an obsolete water-cooled machine gun having a single barrel and utilizing the recoil force of each shot to maintain automatic fire

Word History and Origins

Origin of Maxim gun¹

First recorded in 1880–85; after H. S. Maxim

Word History and Origins

Origin of Maxim gun¹

C19: named after Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim (1840–1916), its US-born British inventor

Example Sentences

Kitchener’s Anglo-Egyptian army, equipped with artillery and Maxim guns, had slaughtered a much larger enemy force armed with obsolete spears and rifles.

From Time

In the museum there is a regimental drum sitting above a Maxim gun - whose withering fire would claim so many lives in the Great War.

From BBC

The Maxim gun had been invented by an American living in London and deployed by General Kitchener to devastating effect in colonial wars such as Sudan.

From BBC

"I hope I shall never again have to shoot down men walking away," wrote Lieutenant Arthur Hadow, commander of the Maxim guns detachment.

From BBC

The Arabs, seeing this extraordinary-looking machine, at once came to the conclusion that it was a Maxim gun or some such deadly weapon.

From Project Gutenberg