A ball turret is a type of gun turret that is mounted on the bottom of an aircraft. It is typically spherical in shape and is used to house a machine gun or other small arms. Ball turrets were commonly used during World War II as a means of defense against enemy aircraft.
Definitions
A ball turret is a small, spherical, rotating gun turret that is mounted on the underside of an aircraft. It is typically used for defensive purposes and is operated by a gunner who is positioned inside the turret.
Origin
The ball turret was first developed during World War II as a means of providing additional defensive firepower to aircraft. It was designed to be lightweight and compact, so that it could be easily mounted on the underside of an aircraft without adding too much weight or drag.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a ball turret is “a revolving gun turret mounted in the underside of an airplane.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “a small spherical gun turret mounted on the underside of an aircraft.”
Associations
The ball turret is most commonly associated with World War II aircraft, particularly with the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-24 Liberator. It is also associated with the role of the gunner, who was responsible for operating the turret and defending the aircraft against enemy attacks.
Synonyms
There are several synonyms for ball turret, including gun turret, aircraft turret, and aircraft gunner’s turret.
Antonyms
There are no direct antonyms for ball turret, as it is a specific type of gun turret that is mounted on an aircraft.
The same root words
The word “turret” is derived from the Latin word “turris,” which means tower or fortress. The word “ball” in this context refers to the spherical shape of the turret.
Example Sentences
- The ball turret gunner was responsible for defending the aircraft against enemy attacks.
- The B-17 Flying Fortress was equipped with a ball turret for defensive purposes.
- The gunner climbed into the ball turret and prepared to defend the aircraft.
- The ball turret was a vital component of many World War II aircraft.
- The ball turret provided additional defensive firepower to the aircraft.