An automatic pistol is a type of handgun that uses the recoil or blowback of firing a round to automatically chamber the next round, allowing for rapid and continuous firing. This type of firearm is widely used by military and law enforcement agencies around the world, as well as by civilians for self-defense and recreational shooting.
Definitions
An automatic pistol is a handgun that uses the energy from the fired cartridge to automatically extract and eject the spent cartridge case, then load a new cartridge into the chamber, ready for firing. Unlike a revolver, which has a rotating cylinder that holds multiple rounds, an automatic pistol typically has a magazine that holds multiple rounds and feeds them into the chamber one at a time.
Origin
The automatic pistol was first developed in the late 19th century, with the first successful design being the Borchardt C-93, which was produced in Germany in 1893. This was followed by the Mauser C96, the Luger P08, and the Colt M1911, which became the standard sidearm of the US military for over 70 years.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, an automatic pistol is “a pistol that uses the recoil or blowback of firing a round to automatically chamber the next round.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “a pistol that automatically ejects the empty cartridge case and loads a fresh cartridge from a magazine.”
Associations
The automatic pistol is often associated with law enforcement and military use, as well as with self-defense and recreational shooting. It is also associated with controversy and debate over gun control laws and the Second Amendment to the US Constitution.
Synonyms
Synonyms for automatic pistol include semi-automatic pistol, self-loading pistol, and autoloading pistol.
Antonyms
Antonyms for automatic pistol include revolver, single-action pistol, and muzzleloader.
The same root words
The root words of automatic pistol are “automatic” and “pistol.” “Automatic” refers to the self-loading mechanism of the firearm, while “pistol” refers to a small, handheld firearm designed to be fired with one hand.
Example Sentences
- The police officer drew his automatic pistol and aimed it at the suspect.
- She practiced shooting her semi-automatic pistol at the range every weekend.
- The soldier carried a loaded automatic pistol as part of his standard equipment.
- He preferred the reliability and accuracy of his self-loading pistol over a revolver.
- The gun enthusiast showed off his collection of antique autoloading pistols.