revolver

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A pistol having a revolving cylinder with several cartridge chambers that may be fired in succession.
2. n. One that revolves, as a part of a mechanism.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. One who or that which revolves.
2. n. Specifically— A revolving firearm, especially a pistol, having a revolving barrel provided with a number of bores (as in earlier styles of the weapon), or (as in modern forms) a single barrel with a revolving cylinder at its base, provided with a number of chambers. When the barrel or cylinder revolves on its longitudinal axis, the several bores or chambers are brought in succession into relation with firing-mechanism for successive and rapid firing. In the modern forms of the arm the chambers of the cylinder are, by such revolution, brought successively into line with the bore in the barrel, which is also the firing position. In this position each chamber respectively forms a continuation of the bore in the barrel. Six is the common number of chambers. The most vital distinction between early and modern revolving firearms is that the barrels of the former were directly revolved by the hand; while in the latter the revolving-mechanism is connected with the firing-mechanism, the cocking of which automatically revolves the cylinder. Metal cartridges with conical bullets are used in all modern revolvers, the loading being done at the breech. Some are self-cocking—that is, are cocked by pulling the trigger which also discharges them. Some, by peculiar mechanism (though, for general use, they may be cocked in the ordinary way for taking deliberate aim), are by a quick adjustment changed into self-cocking pistols for more rapid firing in emergencies where accurate aim is of subordinate importance. Colonel Colt of the United States was the first to produce a really serviceable and valuable revolving arm, though the principle was known in the earlier part of the sixteenth century.
3. n. A revolving cannon.
4. n. A revolving horse-rake.

Wiktionary

1. n. A handgun with a revolving chamber enabling several shots to be fired without reloading.
2. n. Agent noun of revolve; something that revolves.
3. n. revolver pistol.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. One who, or that which, revolves; specifically, a firearm ( commonly a pistol) with several chambers or barrels so arranged as to revolve on an axis, and be discharged in succession by the same lock; a repeater.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
2. n. a door consisting of four orthogonal partitions that rotate about a central pivot; a door designed to equalize the air pressure in tall buildings