pinfire en · NOUN
Etymology
From pin + fire.
Meanings
-
An obsolete kind of brass cartridge in which the priming compound is ignited by striking a small pin which protrudes radially from just above the base of the cartridge.
"An early French make, I should say; one of Lefaucheux's probably," said Carrados. "You have removed the cartridges?" "Why, yes," admitted the sergeant, producing a matchbox from his pocket. "They're pin-fire, you see, and I'm not too fond of carrying a thing like that loaded in my pocket as I'm riding a young horse."
1914, Ernest Bramah, Max Carrados:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| pinfires | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
lipfire · rimfire · cupfire · centerfire