center-fire
Americanadjective
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(of a cartridge) having the primer in the center of the base.
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(of firearms) designed for the use of such cartridges.
Etymology
Origin of center-fire
An Americanism dating back to 1870–75
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.
Hunters with special permits would be allowed to kill one bear each with center-fire rifles and handguns, shotguns, and various types of bows.
From Reuters • Jun. 24, 2015
“Prob'ly they're center-fire ca'tridges for rim-fire guns, or vicy-versy.”
From The Wilderness Trail by Williams, Frank
Steve loosened the center-fire cinch of his pony's saddle.
From Gunsight Pass How Oil Came to the Cattle Country and Brought a New West by Raine, William MacLeod
While the rifles were center-fire, a great many of the cartridges were rim-fire, and consequently useless unless broken and the powder and ball rammed home as in the old muzzle-loaders.
From The Wilderness Trail by Williams, Frank
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.
