TOMMY GUNS Meaning and
Definition
-
Tommy guns refer to a popular slang term for a type of submachine gun known as the Thompson submachine gun. Originally designed and manufactured by John T. Thompson in the early 20th century, it gained significant fame and notoriety during the Prohibition era in the United States. The term "tommy" arises from the phonetic similarity between "Tommy" (the nickname for a typical British soldier) and "Thompson."
Tommy guns are compact firearms characterized by their automatic firing capability, intermediate size, and box magazines. They gained widespread use in law enforcement agencies, as well as among the military, due to their rapid-fire capabilities and portability. The Thompson submachine guns were favored for their reliability, versatility, and effectiveness in close-quarter combat situations.
Typically known for their distinctive appearance, tommy guns sport a unique design featuring a prominent circular drum magazine extending horizontally from the firearm's receiver. This feature became an iconic symbol of the Roaring Twenties, gangsters, and organized crime in the United States. However, it is worth noting that tommy guns have also seen combat usage during the World War II and subsequent conflicts.
Due to their historical significance, tommy guns have become collectibles among firearm enthusiasts and are often associated with an era of social and political turbulence. Today, the term "tommy guns" continues to be widely recognized as a reference to the Thompson submachine guns and their cultural impact.
Common Misspellings for TOMMY GUNS
- tommy guhn
- tomy gun
- tomm gun
- tommy gunn
- tommi gun
- rommy guns
- fommy guns
- gommy guns
- yommy guns
- 6ommy guns
- 5ommy guns
- timmy guns
- tkmmy guns
- tlmmy guns
- tpmmy guns
- t0mmy guns
- t9mmy guns
- tonmy guns
- tokmy guns
- tojmy guns
Etymology of TOMMY GUNS
The word "tommy guns" is derived from the name of the Thompson submachine gun, also known as the Tommy gun. The Thompson submachine gun was invented by John T. Thompson, an American army officer, in the early 20th century. It was initially produced by the Auto-Ordnance Corporation, a company founded by Thompson. The nickname "Tommy" for the gun emerged during World War II, when British soldiers started using the weapon in large numbers. It is believed that the British soldiers began referring to it as "Tommy" after the common name "Tom" (a shortened form of "Thomas"), which was often applied to various British military-related things. The term "Tommy gun" eventually became synonymous with submachine guns in general, in both military and cultural contexts.
