noun
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Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of revolver
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How does revolver compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A revolver is a gun that can be held in one hand and has a revolving cylinder. Most revolvers can fire six bullets without being reloaded. You can also call a revolver a pistol or a handgun or even a six-shooter. This last nickname comes from the fact that many revolvers have six chambers for bullets in their revolving cylinders. Originally, they were called revolving guns, but the man who invented them, Samuel Colt, preferred the briefer revolver, and it caught on.
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.
See Examples For:
It has led to a tony version of an old western shoot-out, with opinion pieces in Aspen’s two local newspapers replacing revolver bullets and $8 matcha lattes at Sant Ambroeus swapped for 10-cent beers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
On Sept. 18, 2023, deputies arrested Salazar at his Palmdale home, where they recovered a .22-caliber revolver.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Sir Keir's revolver has not been brought back to the UK and remains with British officials in Turkey.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
Like Chekhov’s revolver, he’s a harbinger of bad things happening to humans.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 10, 2026
Armed with his English Bulldog revolver, Comstock was one of the few prominent white citizens in Osage County who seemed willing to assist investigators.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
The last young Bundists to remain in the ghetto joined the Zionists in the Jewish Combat Organization, which had obtained 10 revolvers from the Home Army.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
He was carrying 743 rounds of ammunition and four handguns – two 9mm Browning semi-automatic pistols and two Smith & Wesson .357 magnum revolvers.
From BBC ● Mar. 7, 2026
Only 9-mm pistols and 38-caliber revolvers are authorized for civilian use under the decree.
From Reuters ● May 30, 2023
While the men huff around with revolvers, the women have embraced the model of the old “Road to … ” series with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.
From New York Times ● May 11, 2023
Jesper checked his revolvers and saw Inej touch her fingers briefly to each of her knives, lips moving.
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
