-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
Kentucky rifle
noun
: a muzzle-loading long-barreled flintlock rifle developed in the 18th century in Pennsylvania and used extensively on the American frontier
Examples of Kentucky rifle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Look no further than the Kentucky rifle team's trip home from the NCAA national championship Saturday.
—Jon Hale, The Courier-Journal, 14 Mar. 2021
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1832, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near Kentucky rifle
Cite this Entry
“Kentucky rifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Kentucky%20rifle. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
Kentucky rifle
noun
: a long flintlock rifle loaded through the muzzle that was developed in the 18th century
More from Merriam-Webster on Kentucky rifle
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Kentucky rifle
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share