\Whit"worth gun`\ (Gun.)
A form of rifled cannon and small arms invented by Sir Joseph
Whitworth, of Manchester, England.
Note: In Mr. Whitworth's system, the bore of the gun has a
      polygonal section, and the twist is rapid. The ball,
      which is pointed in front, is made to fit the bore
      accurately, and is very much elongated, its length
      being about three and one half times as great as its
      diameter. --H. L. Scott.