Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The wroughtiron welded coil shrunk on the rear end of the steel tubes of the Fraser system of heavy guns.
- noun A heavy mass of steel which supports the wedge in the Krupp system of guns.
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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The crew necessary to serve the gun consists of six men -- a gunner, a man to manoeuvre the breech-piece, a man to manoeuvre the pointing lever, two men to pass the ammunition, and a man to regulate the fuse.
With the Naval Brigade in Natal (1899-1900) Journal of Active Service
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The young man knew, of course, that sometimes a cartridge will "hang fire", and that many a gun's crew have been blown to pieces by prematurely opening the breech, but he forgot all about that now in his anxiety, and unscrewed and opened the breech-piece immediately.
A Chinese Command A Story of Adventure in Eastern Seas Harry Collingwood 1886
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"I'm the breech-piece mule of number two gun of the First Screw
The Jungle Book Rudyard Kipling 1900
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"You pressed on the lever and opened the breech-piece.
Round the Red Lamp 1894
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"You pressed on the lever and opened the breech-piece.
Round the Red Lamp Arthur Conan Doyle 1894
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"You pressed on the lever and opened the breech-piece.
Round the Red Lamp Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir, 1859-1930 1894
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"I'm the breech-piece mule of number two gun of the First Screw Battery," said the mule, "and the other's one of your friends.
The Jungle Book. 1893
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