Armalite

British

/ ˈɑːməlaɪt /

noun

a lightweight high-velocity rifle of various calibres, capable of automatic and semiautomatic operation

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Armalite

C20: from Armalite Division, Fairchild Engine and Airplane Company, manufacturers

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.

Duterte also likes high-caliber sniper rifles, the M-4 Armalite being a favorite.

From Salon • Oct. 25, 2018

Martin McGuinness, IRA commander turned Northern Ireland deputy first minister, switched from Armalite to an armistice.

From BBC • Jan. 19, 2017

The A in AR-15 stands for Armalite, the company that created its forefather, the M-16, in the late 1950s and sold the design to Colt.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 13, 2016

As president, he played a direct role in forcing the Army to compete three rifles — the in-house M14, the Armalite AR-15 and the AK-47.

From Washington Times • Jan. 31, 2016

Armalite radar—used as proximity warning device for aircraft.

From The Practical Values of Space Exploration Report of the Committee on Science and Astronautics, U.S. House of Representatives, Eighty-Sixth Congress, Second Session by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science and Astronautics.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023