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air rifle
noun
: a rifle whose projectile (such as a BB or pellet) is propelled by compressed air or carbon dioxide
Examples of air rifle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
So, please, don't shoot my eye out with an official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot range model air rifle!
—Chris Nashawaty, EW.com, 28 Nov. 2023
In incidents earlier this week, Unite Here Local 11, the union representing hospitality workers, alleges that people on one of its picket lines were struck by pellets fired by an air rifle.
—Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2024
When a mink was contained, it was shot with an air rifle, which Martin tells the Independent’s Danny Halpin is the most humane way to do it.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Jan. 2024
The country has outlawed handguns, and while civilians may purchase shotguns and air rifles, the process to obtain a firearm license is extensive, involving a class, a written test and a shooting-range test among other evaluations.
—Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 14 Sep. 2023
Police are investigating the death of an 8-year-old boy who was killed by an air rifle, authorities said.
—Gina Martinez, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2023
Fairburn ended up fleeing from Lewis, who seized a BB air rifle from the area of the encounter, along with several knives that were reportedly stuck in a piece of wood.
—Thomas Saccente, arkansasonline.com, 19 Nov. 2023
At the end of the day, the best air rifle is extremely subjective.
—T. Logan Metesh, Field & Stream, 4 Oct. 2023
Mitchell was holding an air rifle and seated in a car when he was fatally shot by Officers Anthony Chavez and Matthew Concannon, according to a letter reviewed by The Times and a law enforcement source with direct knowledge of the case.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'air rifle.' Any 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
1801, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near air rifle
Cite this Entry
“Air rifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/air%20rifle. Accessed 10 Jun. 2024.
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