(slang) a revolver or
automatic pistol. A
term derived from a Gatling
gun: an early
type of
machine gun consisting of a cluster of barrels revolving around a
central axis by a
hand crank. Each barrel was automatically
loaded and
fired during every revolution of the cluster. Named after
American inventor R. J. Gatling (1818–1903) who perfected it.
—PDC Volume 7 Approved Glossary