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A gun, pistol, or any weapon from a shot is discharged by the force of an explosive substance, as gunpowder.

In breech-loading firearms, the block behind the barrel which receives the pressure due to recoil.

Articles used in charging firearms and ordnance of all kinds; as powder, balls, shot, shells, percussion caps, rockets, etc.

a soldier. -- In arms, armed for war; in a state of hostility. -- Small arms, portable firearms known as muskets, rifles, carbines, pistols, etc. -- A stand of arms, a complete set for one soldier, as a musket, bayonet, cartridge box and belt; frequently, the musket and bayonet alone. -- To arms! a summons to war…

A sort of hand gun or firearm a contrivance answering to a trigger, by which the burning match was applied. The musket was a later invention. [Written also harquebus.]

id spherical, cylindrical, or conical projectile of lead or iron, to be discharged from a firearm; as, a cannon ball; a rifball; -- often used collectively; as, powder and ball. Spherical balls for the smaller firearms are commonly called bullets.

Incapable of being penetrated by balls from firearms.

A small knob of metal on a firearm, used for taking aim (whence the expression to draw a bead, for, to take aim).

To be resplendent. Macaulay. To blaze away, to discharge a firearm, or to continue firing; -- said esp. of a number of persons, as a line of soldiers. Also used (fig.) of speech or action. [Colloq.]

A short gun or firearm, with a large bore, capable of holding a number of balls, and intended to do execution without exact aim.

The internal cylindrical cavity of a gun, cannon, pistol, or other firearm, or of a pipe or tube. The bores of wind instruments. Bacon. Love's counselor should fill the bores of hearing. Shak.

The hinder part of anything; esp., the part of a cannon, or other firearm, behind the chamber.

A strong iron or steel plug screwed into the breech of a musket or other firearm, to close the bottom of the bore.

A device attached to the breech of a firearm, to guide the eye, in conjunction with the front sight, in taking aim.

The movable piece which closes the breech of a breech-loading firearm, and resists the backward force of the discharge. It is withdrawn for the insertion of a cartridge, and closed again before the gun is fired.

A firearm which receives its load at the breech. For cavalry, the revolver and breechloader will supersede the saber. Rep. Sec. War (1860).

round or elongated in form, to be discharged from a rifle, musket, pistol, or other small firearm.

The diameter of the bore, as a cannon or other firearm, or of any tube; or the weight or size of the projectile which a firearm will carry; as, an 8 inch gun, a 12-pounder, a 44 caliber. The caliber of empty tubes. Reid. A battery composed of three guns of small caliber. Prescott.

bodies, as of work shaped in a lathe or planer, timber, masts, shot, etc.; or the bore of firearms, tubes, etc.; -- called also caliper compasses, or caliber compasses. Caliper square, a draughtsman's or mechanic's square, having a graduated bar and adjustable jaw or jaws. Knight. -- Vernier calipers. See Vernier.…

A great gun; a piece of ordnance or artillery; a firearm for discharging heavy shot with great force.