[Vocabulary] The gunshot in a race?

[Pepperoni Papaya]

Could you please tell what do you call the gunshot at the beginning of a race which signals to the competitors to start?

Thank you in advance! :-D:up:

 

[Rover_KE]

Interesting question, PP.

Never really thought about it.

I think I'd say 'They're waiting for the gun, or the off or the crack of the starter's pistol.

Rover

 

[BobK]

... or 'they're waiting for the starting gun'. I agree with Rover, except for the last one. We southerners never mention the noise of the gun. ;-)

b

 

[Ouisch]

In the US, the actual device is called a "starter's pistol." But sports announcers will often say (in reference to the starter pistol's shot) "there's the gun and they're off!"