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xtended sense, to risk large sums in hazardous speculations. [Cant] Plunging fire (Gun.), firing directed upon an enemy from an elevated position.

The firing pin of a breechloader. Plunger bucket, a piston, without a valve, in a pump. -- Plunger pole, the pump rod of a pumping engine. -- Plunger pump, a pump, as for water, having a plunger, instead of a piston, to act upon the water. It may be single-acting or double- acting

r hose, a tube of strong linen, about an inch in diameter, filled with powder and used in firing mines. Farrow. -- Powder hoy (Naut.), a vessel specially fitted to carry powder for the supply of war ships. They are usually painted red and carry a red flag. -- Powder magazine, or Powder room. See Magazine, 2. -- Powd…

, under 2d Lag. -- Priming tube, a small pipe, filled with a combustible composition for firing cannon. -- Priming valve (Steam Eng.), a spring safety valve applied to the cylinder of a steam engine for discharging water carried into the cylinder by priming. -- Priming wire, a pointed wire used to penetrate the vent…

To adjust (a gun) on its carriage; also, to train (a gun) for horizontal firing.

a low angle of elevation, or of a fiat stone thrown along the surface of water. Ricochet firing (Mil.), the firing of guns or howitzers, usually with small charges, at an elevation of only a few degrees, so as to cause the balls or shells to bound or skip along the ground.

A salute paid by a simultaneous, or nearly simultaneous, firing of a number of cannon.

firearm, esp. a pistol, with seven barrels or chambers for cartridges, or one capable of firing seven shots without reloading. [Colloq.]

A light, smooth-bored gun, often double-barreled, especially designed for firing small shot at short range, and killing small game.

To cause to cease firing, as by a vigorous cannonade; as, to silence the batteries of an enemy.

A match for firing a charge of powder, as in blasting; a fuse.

Paper steeped in saltpeter, which burns slowly, and is used as a match for firing gunpowder, and the like.