sidearm

[sahyd-ahrm]

with a swinging motion of the arm moving to the side of the body at shoulder level or below and nearly parallel to the ground: to pitch sidearm.

thrown or performed sidearm: a sidearm curve ball; sidearm stroke.

Origin of sidearm

First recorded in 1925–30; side¹ + arm¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

He strode out of the office, hooking his sidearm belt from a hanger as he went by.
The Best Made Plans
Everett B. Cole
Gonzales was zipping up his tunic and putting on his belt and sidearm.
Oomphel in the Sky
Henry Beam Piper
After all, a kirpan was a sidearm, and his religion required him to carry that.
Four-Day Planet
Henry Beam Piper
Even worse, the pressure at his hip told him that he hadn't even bothered to take his sidearm off.
Anything You Can Do ...
Gordon Randall Garrett
As Barrent came through the doorway, two of the men moved back; the third, his sidearm negligently lowered, stepped forward.
The Status Civilization
Robert Sheckley

Word Origin and History for sidearm

adj.

also side-arm, 1908, from side (adj.) + arm (n.1).