Real Dictionary

shotgun
countable noun: A shotgun is a gun used for shooting birds and animals which fires a lot of small metal balls at one time.

shotgun in American English
a smoothbore gun, usually used for firing a charge of shot at short range, as in hunting small game
noun: a smoothbore gun for firing small shot to kill birds and small quadrupeds, though often used with buckshot to kill larger animals

shotgun in British English
adjective: involving coercion or duress
noun: a shoulder firearm with unrifled bore designed for the discharge of small shot at short range and used mainly for hunting small game
verb: to shoot or threaten with or as if with a shotgun