Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A weapon, especially a pistol or rifle, capable of firing a projectile and using an explosive charge as a propellant.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. A weapon from which a missile, such as a bullet, cannon-ball, shell, etc., is expelled by the combustion of gunpowder or other similar explosive. Pistols, muskets, cannon, etc., are firearms.
Wiktionary
- n. A personal weapon that uses explosive powder to propel a metal (usually lead) projectile.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. A gun, pistol, or any weapon from which a shot is discharged by the force of an explosive substance, as gunpowder.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a portable gun
Etymologies
- fire + arm. (Wiktionary)
Examples
“The term firearm is not otherwise defined in the statute.”
“Equipment (I assume the firearm is the biggest issue here) +1 Good Comment?”
Elmer Fudd brought this up on Phil's turkey blog. Which is more important for turkeys?
“Hand held bows are archery equipment, a firearm is a gun, a crossbow is somewhere in between,,, ,although the ATA and even the NRA is trying to convince people otherwise.”
“By the way, self defense with a firearm is a constitutional right now (or will be in less than a month), but as a practical matter, what if a parent shows that they are in actual danger?”
The Volokh Conspiracy » Juveniles on Probation, and Their Parents’ Guns (and Other Weapons)
“Take an eight-hour course in most of the smart states and you qualify for a concealed weapons permit; note that owning a firearm is already assumed in those states.”
The Volokh Conspiracy » Changes in the Gun Culture over the last 25 years
“I try to keep my firearms in the best mechanical and cosmetic condition possible, some even have 50+ years of use by myself and preceding generations, but a firearm is a tool, and with use will acquire wear marks.”
“To the guys who insist that a firearm is the only way, I think you really want to have a face-to-face with a bear, so go and schedule a bear hunt and shoot one.”
“In some states, trespass while in possession of a firearm is a felony punishable by imprisonment for up to five years and/or a fine up to $5,000.”
“Amazed - how does asking these questions on an 18 page questionaire mean he thinks owning a firearm is akin to talking dirty in Internet chat rooms?”
“Obviously, [President-elect] Obama feels that owning a firearm is akin to talking dirty in Internet chat rooms.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘firearm’.
-
IMCO - EU nomenclature
includes words of the "Prodcom list"
abaca, abdominal, abrasive, absorbent, absorber, accelerator, accessory, account book, accumulator, acebutolol, acetaldehyde, acetamide and 4515 more...
-
JURI - courtroom speak
Legal glossary with special focus on courtroom vocabulary
accused, acquittal, ADA, adjournment, adjudication, affidavit, affirmed, aggravated range, aggravating factors, allegation, alleged, answer and 794 more...
-
SEDE - weapons
ammunition, anti-aircraft mac..., anti-vehicle mine, automatic machine..., ballistic missile..., bazooka, biological weapons, booby trap, bunker-busting bomb, chemical weapons, cluster bomb, light battleship and 218 more...
-
Steampunk
Words used quite often in steampunk
ansible, airship, chymical, valve, clockwork, dirigible, thaumaturgy, copper, bronze, difference engine, gear, rivets and 521 more...
-
gun
words for firearms (singular)
gun, chopper, rifle, pistol, shooter, pea shooter, cannon, glock, shotgun, gat, strap, revolver and 27 more...
-
Fire when ready
Words and phrases containing fire.
fire ant, crossfire, fire and brimstone, spitfire, firepower, fireflower, firetower, firetrap, brushfire, fireworks, fire storm, fight fire with fire and 84 more...
-
Just 'cause I like 'em, F
felony, frolic, fend, fuselage, farthingale, freewheeling, frigorific, flummery, fancypants, felsitic, flagstone, flageolet and 295 more...
-
Words & Phrases #1 (New)
bimbo, himbo, vacuous, aftermath, boffin, aftereffect, scrub, hashtag, obnoxious, captivate, cultivate, throttle and 73 more...
Tweets
Looking for tweets for firearm.
seanahan Yes, but guns make us safer. Nov 10, 2009
bilby "On average, guns kill or wound 276 people every day in America. Of those shot, about 75 adults and nine children die. That adds up to just over 100,000 victims of gun violence a year. The rate of firearm murders in the United States is about 16 times that in Australia and 26 times that in Britain."
- Bernard Lagan, America's gun outrage: 276 people killed or wounded a day, theage.com.au, 9 Nov 2009. Nov 10, 2009