firearm

[fahyuhr-ahrm]

noun

1. a small arms arm weapon, as a rifle or pistol, from which a projectile is fired by gunpowder.

firearm

/ ˈfaɪərˌɑːm /

noun

1. a weapon, esp a portable gun or pistol, from which a projectile can be discharged by an explosion caused by igniting gunpowder, etc

Other Word Forms

• firearmed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of firearm¹

First recorded in 1640–50; fire + arm ²

Example Sentences

Solicitor General John Sauer in a court brief said the ruling would prevent the “lion’s share” of prosecutions involving people “who pose a clear danger of misusing firearms.”

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“A second customer in the store, fearing for the store employees, herself, and other customers, retrieved a personal firearm and fired a warning shot at the male,” the news release stated.

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"Our serious crime directorate has been involved in these operations, which they wouldn't normally be. They would normally be involved in firearms offences, drug importation, et cetera."

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Last year, the justices rejected a gun rights claim in another case from Texas and ruled that a man charged with domestic violence can lose his rights to have firearms.

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Louise has worked around the world with dogs detecting firearms, explosives and tobacco, but said Henry was one of a growing number involved in conservation detecting and tackling wildlife crime.

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Related Words

• handgun 
• musket 
• pistol 
• revolver 
• rifle 
• shotgun 
• weapon