noun
Sten
noun
1
A lightweight British submachine gun developed for World War II, prized for how cheaply and quickly it could be mass-produced.
"Resistance fighters were dropped crates of Stens to arm their units."
"The Sten was infamous for jamming at the worst possible moment."
How to Use Sten
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA cheap, mass-produced British machine gun from World War II.
Memory tip
You will mostly meet this word in history books or war films, not everyday speech.
Trace the full origin ↓Word Forms
Stens plural, Stens plural
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Resistance fighters were dropped crates of _____ to arm their units.
Etymology
The name is an acronym built from the initials of its designers, Reginald Shepherd and Harold Turpin, plus "EN" for the Enfield factory where it was made.