Difference between revisions of "Firearm"
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AManInBlack (talk | contribs) (Let's make a distinction; gun has lots of colloquial definitions, but a firearm is something specific) |
Aziraphale (talk | contribs) (categorize) |
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Such weapons are typically referred to as "[[gun]]s" in common usage. Gun has a particular meaning in specialist usage, however, when referring to larger weapons; a gun is a direct-fire weapon (which fires directly at the target), whereas a [[howitzer]] or [[mortar]] is an indirect-fire weapon (a weapon that fires in a high arc to drop its fire down on a target). | Such weapons are typically referred to as "[[gun]]s" in common usage. Gun has a particular meaning in specialist usage, however, when referring to larger weapons; a gun is a direct-fire weapon (which fires directly at the target), whereas a [[howitzer]] or [[mortar]] is an indirect-fire weapon (a weapon that fires in a high arc to drop its fire down on a target). | ||
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Revision as of 19:15, July 23, 2007
A firearm is device, typically used as a weapon, which fires projectile(s) with the force of the expanding gases created by the rapid burning of a confined propellant (typically gunpowder). Such weapons can be as small as handguns, which can be carried and used in one hand, or as large as the cannon on a battleship.
Such weapons are typically referred to as "guns" in common usage. Gun has a particular meaning in specialist usage, however, when referring to larger weapons; a gun is a direct-fire weapon (which fires directly at the target), whereas a howitzer or mortar is an indirect-fire weapon (a weapon that fires in a high arc to drop its fire down on a target).