la mitraillette

The French word "mitraillette" has two main meanings:

1. A type of weapon:
   "Mitraillette" primarily refers to a submachine gun or a small machine gun. It's a firearm designed for rapid firing, typically used by soldiers or law enforcement.

2. A type of sandwich (informal/Belgian):
   In Belgium, "mitraillette" is also the name of a popular street food: a large sandwich made with a baguette (or similar bread) filled with meat (like steak, sausage, or meatballs), fries (French fries) inside the bread, and various sauces (like mayonnaise, ketchup, or sauce andalouse). It’s kind of like a "fries sandwich."

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Synonyms and distinctions for the weapon sense:

• Mitraillette: submachine gun (usually automatic, lightweight).
• Fusil mitrailleur: sometimes used to mean light machine gun or assault rifle, but more technical.
• Pistolet-mitrailleur: another term for a submachine gun; more formal/technical.

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Summary:

• When referring to the weapon, "mitraillette" is a submachine gun.
• When ordering food in Belgium, "mitraillette" means a sandwich with fries and meat inside a baguette.
• The word is informal in the culinary sense, gastronomic, and highly contextual.

Make sure from the conversation which meaning is implied!