pump-action

American  

[puhmp-ak-shuhn] / ˈpʌmpˌæk ʃən /

adjective

1. (of a shotgun or rifle) having an action that extracts the empty case, loads, and cocks the piece by means of a hand-operated lever that slides backward and forward; slide-action.

---

pump-action British  

adjective

1. (of a shotgun or other repeating firearm) operated by a slide-action mechanism feeding ammunition from a magazine under the barrel into the breech

2. spraying or dispensing liquid by means of a pump rather than using a propellant

---

Etymology

Origin of pump-action

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15

Example Sentences

Authorities said Butler had a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun.

From Seattle Times

The 69-year-old general went on the offensive soon after, taking aim at partygoers from close range with a fluorescent pump-action water gun.

From Reuters

He put in the paperwork to buy a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun.

From Washington Post

The Helix is the highest-end model, a pump-action shotgun-esque blaster that holds 20 rounds in an internal hopper.

From The Verge

The firearm — which gets its name from "Sporting Purpose Automatic Shotgun" — was a dual mode shotgun that cycled between semi-automatic mode at 4 rounds per second and pump-action mode for low pressure ammunition; it was manufactured from 1979 to 2000.

From Salon