small arm

noun

: a handheld firearm (such as a handgun or shoulder arm)
usually used in plural

Examples of small arm in a Sentence

the soldiers keep their small arms securely in their holsters when not on patrol
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The ammunition appears to be AD-LER (Anti-Drone Long Effective Range) rounds developed by Swedish small arms ammunition manufacturer Norma for counter-FPV use. David Hambling, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024 This support has included attack helicopters, amphibious vehicles, tanks, and anti-tank missiles, as well as small arms and light weapons, according to UN sources as well as organizations such as Small Arms Survey and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Aditi Gorur, Foreign Affairs, 27 July 2016 At one point, CNN also heard bursts of small arms fire in the distance. Jeremy Diamond and Mike Schwartz, CNN, 27 Nov. 2024 And here is a group of guerrillas who, with the help of Iran but fighting with small arms and so on, was able to achieve that. Peter Balonon-Rosen, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 See all Example Sentences for small arm 

Word History

First Known Use

1674, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of small arm was in 1674

Dictionary Entries Near small arm

Cite this Entry

“Small arm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/small%20arm. Accessed 19 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

small arm

noun
: a firearm fired while held in the hands
usually used in plural

More from Merriam-Webster on small arm

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!