ˈover-and-ˈunder, a.
[over adv. 1.]
Designating a kind of shotgun in which the barrels are mounted not side by side as is usual but one above the other. Also ellipt. as n.
1930 G. Burrard In Gunroom 30, I have ordered a pair of Over and Under guns as I prefer the grip on this type of gun. 1961 C. Willock Death in Covert iv. 89 Under his arm he carried a beautiful Churchill over-and-under gun. 1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 17 Feb. 44 Most of the over-and-unders have only one trigger, to be pulled once for each shot, the fastest two shots in the sport. 1973 Country Life 28 July 268/2 Over and under shotguns. 1973 D. Lees Rape of Quiet Town vii. 118 He was carrying an over-and-under that must have set him back the thick end of a thousand quid, and, behind that much gun, even plus-fours..couldn't make him look silly. 1976 Field 30 Dec. 1272 (Advt.), These superb over-and-unders meet the growing demand from the modern sportsman for a genuine dual purpose gun, combining the advantage of the over-and-under for clay shooting with balance and handling qualities of the game gun. |