air rifle
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of air rifle
An Americanism dating back to 1900–05
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The weapon was believed to have been an air rifle and no-one was hurt, police said.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
Radke said he ordered Tovar to stop and talk to him, and Tovar produced what he thought at first was a shotgun, but later turned out to be an air rifle.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 27, 2024
A highlight is the discussion of a novel, multishot air rifle that Meriwether Lewis and William Clark brought on their continental expedition.
From New York Times ● Mar. 14, 2023
He also said the office “is currently in possession of the air rifle and the eagle.”
From Washington Times ● Mar. 6, 2023
Winnie brought me an old air rifle that I had in Orlando and Arthur and I would use it for target practice or hunting doves on the farm.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.