Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun Any of various automatic or semiautomatic rifles designed for individual use in combat.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A military style automatic
rifle orcarbine that fires a shortened rifle caliber round or lower power smaller calibre round larger than pistol ammunition from a high capacity magazine. - noun colloquial Any
assault weapon .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun any of the automatic rifles or semiautomatic rifles with large magazines designed for military use
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Calqued from German Sturmgewehr ("assault rifle", (literally) "storm rifle"). The Maschinenpistole 44 was called the Sturmgewehr by Adolf Hitler, whence it was renamed to represent the separate class of firearm it represented. From assault + rifle.
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Examples
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captcrunch2580 commented on the word assault rifle
I made an account just to tell people how horrible this definition is.
1. Automatic or semi automatic
Assault rifles require select fire capability
2. Fires shortened rifle calibers makes no sense
Assault rifles fire intermediate cartridges, small
fast moving projectiles, a larger caliber would
classify it as a battle rifle. "Lower power" makes no
sense it is a small projectile moving very fast. And
shortened is possibly the dumbest thing I've reac in
this context.
3. Larger than a pistol.
Like stated above rifle rounds are generally much
smaller in diameter than pistol rounds so just another
case of complete ignorance. Oh and 30 rounds is
standard capacity.
To sum up this definition is written by someone who has exactly zero knowledge on the subject however this doesn't stop them from pushing their political agenda.
June 4, 2021
bilby commented on the word assault rifle
You'd be hard pressed to convict a dictionary compiler from any major publication of 'pushing a political agenda' but I'm sure you feel better for having had a rant.
Perhaps also consider a Bex and a good lie-down.
June 4, 2021