tail gunner

The term "tail gunner" originates from military aviation, where it describes a crew member responsible for rear defense in aircraft, typically bombers.

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Definition

B2Military Aviation

(technical)A crew member who operates the defensive weaponry at the rear of a military aircraft to protect against enemy attacks from behind.

Example

  • The tail gunner kept a vigilant watch for enemy fighters approaching from the rear.
  • During the mission, the tail gunner successfully fended off several enemy planes.

C1Colloquial

(informal)A person whose role is to defend an organization from criticism or attacks.

Example

  • In the heated debate, he acted as the tail gunner for his team, countering every argument.
  • As the company's spokesperson, she often plays the role of tail gunner in public relations.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "tail gunner":

rear gunnerbig guncrew chief