A World War I slang term for the Maxim machine gun — one of the most feared weapons of the era.
A World War I slang term for the Maxim machine gun — one of the most feared weapons of the era. The name evokes the gun's ability to sweep a deadly arc across the battlefield, painting destruction with each burst. Devil's paintbrush captures both the lethal precision of the weapon and its hellish reputation among troops in the trenches.
They called it the devil's paintbrush because it could cut down an entire line before anyone had time to react.
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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
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(military, World War II, slang) The MG 42 machine gun.
American military slang, primarily from the Korean War era, for a small submachine gun — typically the Soviet PPSh-41 or similar automatic weapons used by enemy forces. The nickname comes from the rapid, staccato burst of fire these guns produce, which sounds uncannily like a mechanical burp. 'Burp gun' is colourful, informal, and tells you everything about how soldiers relate to gear through humour. It appears in war films, memoirs, and military history writing from the mid-20th century.
(AU, , firearms, informal) a short firearm, designed for use in dense foliage.
A slang term for a US Marine, used with pride within the Marine Corps. The nickname supposedly derives from World War I, when German soldiers reportedly called the attacking Marines 'Teufelshunde' (devil dogs) at the Battle of Belleau Wood. Whether historically accurate or not, it has become a standard term of identity and pride in Marine culture.
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(slang, historical) A Maxim gun.
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