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quick-fire

or quick-fir·ing

[kwik-fahyuh r or kwik-fahyuh r-ing]
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adjective
  1. firing or equipped for firing rapidly, especially at moving targets.
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Origin of quick-fire

First recorded in 1890–95

quick fire

noun
  1. a single shot or several shots fired at a rapid rate from small arms at a target, especially one presented unexpectedly.
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Origin of quick fire

First recorded in 1890–95
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for quick-fire

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • But he was secretly elated at the quick-fire success of his joke.

    Painted Veils

    James Huneker

  • The windows filled, the streets ahead of us became choked, as the word that the President was coming ran on like quick-fire.

    The Crisis, Complete

    Winston Churchill

  • Order followed order like the rattle of quick-fire, and was obeyed with something more than the Wolverine's customary smartness.

    The Mystery

    Stewart Edward White and Samuel Hopkins Adams

  • Boil them with a quick-fire, till by trying a little upon a Plate, you find it gellieth.

  • The field and horse batteries are armed with the Krupp quick-fire gun of the model of 1903.

British Dictionary definitions for quick-fire

quick fire

noun
  1. rapid continuous gunfire, esp at a moving target
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adjective quick-fire
  1. Also: quick-firing capable of or designed for quick fire
  2. informal rapid or following one another in rapid successionquick-fire questions
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012