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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



100 words match “FIREARM”

REAR a.
rank or line of a body of troops which is in the rear, or last in order. -- Rear sight (Firearms), the sight nearest the breech. -- To bring up the rear, to come last or behind.
REBOUND v.
To bound again or repeatedly, as a horse. Pope. Rebounding lock (Firearms), one in which the hammer rebounds to half cock after striking the cap or primer.
RECOIL n.
Specifically, the reaction or rebounding of a firearm when discharged. Recoil dynamometer (Gunnery), an instrument for measuring the force of the recoil of a firearm. -- Recoil escapement See the Note under Escapement.
REPEATER n.
A repeating firearm.
REPEATING a.
thing over again; accomplishing a given result many times in succession; as, a repeating firearm; a repeating watch. Repeating circle. See the Note under Circle, n., 3. -- Repeating decimal (Arith.), a circulating decimal. See under Decimal. -- Repeating firearm, a firearm that may be discharged many times in quick…
RETRACTOR n.
In breech-loading firearms, a device for withdrawing a cartridge shell from the barrel. (b) (Surg.)
REVOLVER n.
One who, or that which, revolves; specifically, a firearm ( commonly a pistol) with several chambers or barrels so arranged as to revolve on an axis, and be discharged in succession by the same lock; a repeater.
REVOLVING a.
the revolving year. Shelley. Revolving seasons, fruitless as they pass. Cowper. Revolving firearm. See Revolver. -- Revolving light, a light or lamp in a lighthouse so arranged as to appear and disappear at fixed intervals, either by being turned about an axis so as to show light only at intervals, or by having its li…
RIFLE n.
thus giving the ball a rotary motion and insuring greater accuracy of fire. As a military firearm it has superseded the musket.
ROLLING a.
ocity equals the velocity of the ship. J. Bourne. -- Rolling fire (Mil.), a discharge of firearms by soldiers in line, in quick succession, and in the order in which they stand. -- Rolling friction, that resistance to motion experienced by one body rolling upon another which arises from the roughness or other quality…
ROUND n.
A general discharge of firearms by a body of troops in which each soldier fires once.
SECURE v.
and a position in the manual of arms, used in wet weather, the object being to guard the firearm from becoming wet. The piece is turned with the barrel to the front and grasped by the right hand at the lewer band, the muzzle is dropped to the front, and the piece held with the guard under the right arm, the hand suppo…
SEVEN-SHOOTER n.
A firearm, esp. a pistol, with seven barrels or chambers for cartridges, or one capable of firing seven shots without reloading. [Colloq.]
SHOOT v.
To strike with anything shot; to hit with a missile; often, to kill or wound with a firearm; -- followed by a word denoting the person or thing hit, as an object. When Roger shot the hawk hovering over his master's dove house. A. Tucker.
SHOOTER n.
A firearm; as, a five-shooter. [Colloq. U.S.]
SHOOTING n. 2 definitions
A wounding or killing with a firearm; specifically (Sporting), the killing of game; as, a week of shooting.
SHOT n. 2 definitions
The act of shooting; discharge of a firearm or other weapon which throws a missile. He caused twenty shot of his greatest cannon to be made at the king's army. Clarendon.
SHUNT n.
loying a portion of the current from the armature to maintain the field. -- Shunt gun, a firearm having shunt rifling. See under Rifling.
SIDE a.
Shak. His gown had side sleeves down to mid leg. Laneham. Side action, in breech-loading firearms, a mechanism for operating the breech block, which is moved by a lever that turns sidewise. -- Side arms, weapons worn at the side, as sword, bayonet, pistols, etc. -- Side ax, an ax of which the handle is bent to one s…
SIGHTING n.
from Sight, v. t. Sighting shot, a shot made to ascertain whether the sights of a firearm are properly adjusted; a trial shot.
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