automatic rifle

American  

noun

1. a type of light machine gun capable of firing automatically or in single shots.

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Etymology

Origin of automatic rifle

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

He says a week of basic training followed, during which he was shown how to handle an automatic rifle.

From BBC

From a distance, army personnel in bulletproof jackets, armed with automatic rifles, stand watch, tracking every movement.

From BBC

The three proposed tranches of semiautomatic and automatic rifles are valued at $34 million and are being ordered directly from American gunmakers, but they require State Department approval and congressional notification.

From New York Times

"We have found some weapons, notably four automatic rifles. For the first time we have found a number of migrants hiding in the trees."

From Reuters

Germany's war weapons law regulates the production, sale and transfer of weapons ranging from hand grenades and automatic rifles to combat aircraft.

From Reuters