Mitrailleuses, or machine guns, have been used in warfare for over a century. However, there are several synonyms for the word, depending on the type of gun or its particular characteristics. For instance, the term "automatic rifle" is often used for smaller, handheld machine guns that can fire rapidly, while "heavy machine gun" is used for larger guns mounted on vehicles or tripods. The word "Gatling gun" specifically refers to a hand-cranked machine gun, while "submachine gun" is typically associated with smaller guns used in close-quarter combat. Regardless of their names, all types of machine guns have played a significant role in warfare throughout history.