carbine
Americannoun
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a light, gas-operated semiautomatic rifle.
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(formerly) a short rifle used in the cavalry.
noun
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a light automatic or semiautomatic rifle of limited range
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Also called: carabin. carabine. a light short-barrelled shoulder rifle formerly used by cavalry
Etymology
Origin of carbine
1595–1605; earlier carabine < Middle French: small harquebus, weapon borne by a carabin a lightly armed cavalryman, compared with ( e ) scarabin gravedigger for plague victims (< Provençal, akin to French escarbot cockchafer, dung beetle ≪ Latin scarabaeus scarab ), though semantic change is unclear
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 officer and his colleague, Officer 2, followed with their carbines raised.
From BBC
But any of them might point to Don Hogan Charles’ photo of him peering out of his window while holding an M1 carbine.
From Salon
Instantly, Booth dropped the carbine and crumpled to his knees.
From Literature
Two German sailors, who were armed with light submachine guns and carbines, were with them.
From Literature
Possible sales of firearms were also discussed with Colt CZ Group, the Czech holding company that owns the long-established U.S. carbine and rifle maker, the source said.
From Reuters
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.
