Usage Note
Ametralladora is derived from metralla (shrapnel, grapeshot), itself from French mitraille. It specifically refers to a fully automatic belt-fed or crew-served weapon, distinguished from a pistola ametralladora (submachine gun) or fusil de asalto (assault rifle). The word is grammatically feminine despite referring to a weapon.
Examples
"El soldado disparó la ametralladora desde la trinchera."
Natural Translation
The soldier fired the machine gun from the trench.
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