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The act of putting a load on or into.

Receiving the charge at the breech instead of at the muzzle.

Receiving its charge through the muzzle; as, a muzzle-loading rifle.

The weight supported per square unit of surface; the quotient obtained by dividing the gross weight, in pounds, of a fully loaded flying machine, by the total area, in square feet, of its supporting surface.

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

on the enemy. -- Out of battery, or From battery, withdrawn, as a gun, to a position for loading.

The breech mechanism in breech-loading small arms and certain special guns, as automatic and machine guns; --used frequently in referring to the method by which the movable barrels of breech- loading shotguns are locked, unlocked, or rotated to loading position.

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 It is withdrawn for the insertion of a cartridge, and closed again before the gun is fired.

he bore; -- formerly, in guns, made smaller than the bore, but now larger, esp. in breech-loading guns.

A kind of breechloading, center-fire rifle, or improved needle gun.

A self-loading or semi-automatic pistol with removable magazine in the handle holding seven cartridges. The recoil extracts and ejects the empty cartridge case, and reloads ready for another shot. Called also Browning, and Colt-Browning, pistol.

Loading or tending; helpful; contributive; tending to promote. However conducive to the good or our country. Addison.

The liberty of using a crane, as for loading and unloading vessels.

ts turning fluke down. Russell. Crossbar shot, a projectile which folds into a sphere for loading, but on leaving the gun expands to a cross with a quarter ball at the end of each arm; -- used in naval actions for cutting the enemy's rigging.

A form of tackle for loading a log sideways on a sled, skidway, etc.

e detention of a vessel by the freighter beyond the time allowed in her charter party for loading, unloading, or sailing.

of discharging; the act of relieving of a charge or load; removal of a load or burden; unloading; as, the discharge of a ship; discharge of a cargo.

Wet dock, a dock where the water is shut in, and kept at a given level, to facilitate the loading and unloading of ships; -- also sometimes used as a place of safety; a basin.

The mechanism for closing the breech of a breech-loading firearm, in artillery consisting principally of the breechblock, obturator, and carrier ring.

-- Fixed ammunition (Mil.), a projectile and powder inclosed together in a case ready for loading. -- Fixed battery (Mil.), a battery which contains heavy guns and mortars intended to remain stationary; -- distinguished from movable battery. -- Fixed bodies, those which can not be volatilized or separated by a common…