small-bore

[ smawl-bawr, -bohr ]

adjective

1. of, noting, or relating to a .22-caliber firearm.
2. insular or parochial in scope, attitude, etc.:

   small-bore officials.

small-bore

adjective

1. (of a firearm) having a small bore, especially one of less than .22 calibre

Word History and Origins

Origin of small-bore¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Their fallback is a series of small-bore bills like more visas for high-tech workers.

From The Daily Beast

But I was disappointed to find, ultimately, a very small-bore narrative.

From The Daily Beast

And it initiated a neverending flurry of small-bore initiatives that cumulated in quite a lot of progress in the 1990s.

From The Daily Beast

The tongue is irritated by a pipe that has a small bore in the mouthpiece: use a mouthpiece that has as large a bore as possible.

From Project Gutenberg

Powder only he would have for their long, heavy small-bore rifles with flintlocks, such as Davy Crockett used.

From Project Gutenberg

The .256 Mannlichers are splendid for long range shooting, as they carry a small bore bullet and have enormous penetrating power.

From Project Gutenberg

Hence an armor-piercing gun should have a large chamber and a comparatively small bore of great length.

From Project Gutenberg

Of course, the soft ball driven from a small-bore rifle with a light charge of powder was far too weak to penetrate to the vitals.

From Project Gutenberg