small arm
- Usually small arms. a firearm designed to be held in one or both hands while being fired: in the U.S. the term is applied to weapons of a caliber of up to one inch (2.5 cm).
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Origin of small arm
First recorded in 1680–90
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for small arm
Historical Examples
Among soldiers and small-arm men, to quit the ranks of a company.
The Sailor's Word-BookWilliam Henry Smyth
Not a native clinging to the sides escapes the small-arm men.
The Cruise of the Mary RoseWilliam H. G. Kingston
The small-arm of the infantry is the "3-line" rifle of the 1901 model.
Mr. Walker, with the doctor and supercargo, all capital shots, constituted the marines or small-arm men of the ship.
An Old Sailor's YarnsNathaniel Ames
This meant going out into the open to walk up against machine-gun fire and small-arm fire.
From Place to PlaceIrvin S. Cobb