Thompson submachine gun

noun

Thomp·​son submachine gun ˈtäm(p)-sən- How to pronounce Thompson submachine gun (audio)
: a .45 caliber submachine gun with a drum or stick magazine, a pistol grip, and a detachable buttstock

Examples of Thompson submachine gun in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The sheriff pointed a Thompson submachine gun at the young Black men. Jennie Rothenberg Gritz, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Dec. 2023 One clip showed the truck’s steel doors pelted with bullets from a Thompson submachine gun. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 30 Nov. 2023 The embassy was armed with two revolvers and 40 bullets; Bullitt requested 12 Thompson submachine guns. Sam Roberts, Foreign Affairs, 2 June 2015 Winchester shotguns 12 gauge with case, 100 rounds .00 buck, 25 rounds rifled slugs 1 x Thompson submachine gun .45 cal. Matt Thompson, Spin, 10 Sep. 2023 He was fired after arriving for work dressed as a gangster, carrying a fake Thompson submachine gun. Douglas Martin, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2022 Megellas, armed with only a Thompson submachine gun and grenades, ran toward the tank under enemy fire, halted it with a grenade, climbed onto its turret and pitched another grenade inside, knocking out the Panzer and leaving his men in awe. Fredrick Kunkle, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2022 His Thompson submachine gun was no match for the German tanks. San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2020

Word History

Etymology

John T. Thompson †1940 American army officer

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Thompson submachine gun was in 1920

Dictionary Entries Near Thompson submachine gun

Cite this Entry

“Thompson submachine gun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Thompson%20submachine%20gun. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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