Lewis gun

noun

1. a light, air-cooled, gas-operated machine gun with a circular magazine, first used in World War I.

Lewis gun

noun

1. a light air-cooled drum-fed gas-operated machine gun used chiefly in World War I

Word History and Origins

Origin of Lewis gun¹

First recorded in 1910–15; named after I. N. Lewis

Word History and Origins

Origin of Lewis gun¹

C20: named after I. N. Lewis (1858–1931), US soldier

Example Sentences

Those that did were easily dispersed with machine-gun and Lewis-gun fire.

From Project Gutenberg

The setting sun revealed something shining that looked like the barrel of a Lewis gun.

From Project Gutenberg

Tactically we were at the disposal of the 25th Division, to whom we lent one or two Lewis Gun teams.

From Project Gutenberg

The camera exactly replaced the ammunition magazine on a Lewis gun.

From Project Gutenberg

One regiment took a Lewis-gun after them, and other folk chased them in motor-cars.

From Project Gutenberg