Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A rifle throwing a very small bullet, especially used by sharp-shooters before the introduction of conical balls.
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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It was equivalent to killing an elephant with a pea-rifle.
CHAPTER XV 2010
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It was equivalent to killing an elephant with a pea-rifle.
Chapter 15 1917
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These men carried but one weapon: the long-barrelled, small-bored pea-rifle, whose bullets ran seventy to the pound, the amount of powder and lead being a little less than that contained in the cartridge of a thirty-two calibre Winchester.
X. Old Ephraim 1885
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-- American bushrangers advocate a long heavy pea-rifle, on the plea of its accurate shooting, and the enormous saving in weight of ammunition when bullets of a small size are used.
The Art of Travel Shifts and Contrivances Available in Wild Countries Francis Galton 1866
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Kentucky rifle, which, from the ball being little larger than a pea, was called a pea-rifle.
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No backwoodsman of Kentucky was ever more perfect in the use of his pea-rifle or more certain of his aim than was Annatock with his murderous whip.
Ungava 1859
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[51] Captain Burton started with two huge elephant-guns, one double rifle, one pea-rifle, one air-gun, two revolving pistols, and a cross-bow, all of which he used for display to amuse the Arabs.
What Led to the Discovery of the Source of the Nile John Hanning Speke 1845
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