Gatling guns were first invented in 1861 by Richard Gatling. They are rapid-fire machine guns with revolving barrels which were used extensively during the American Civil War. These guns have also been used in other conflicts around the world and have become synonymous with warfare. There are a number of synonyms for the term "gatling guns". Some of the most common include "machine guns", "automatic weapons", "multibarrel guns", "repeating guns", and "rapid-fire guns". These weapons have been a significant part of military history and have played a critical role in shaping the outcome of many conflicts.