handgun
noun
- short-barreled firearm designed to be fired with only one hand
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈhændˌɡʌn/
noun
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *handuz Proto-West Germanic *handu Old English hand Middle English hond English hand Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰen- Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰéntis Proto-Germanic *gunþiz Old Norse gunnr Proto-Indo-European *kelh₂-der. Proto-Indo-European *kelh₂tís Proto-Germanic *hildiz Old Norse hildr Old Norse Gunnhildrder. Middle English gunne English gun English handgun From hand + gun.
- A small gun with a relatively short barrel, designed to be held and operated with a single hand.
“Petric used his father's key to open a lockbox and remove a 9mm handgun and the game.”
“A related design and marketing innovation has been the sale to civilians of “vest busters,” handguns specifically designed to penetrate body armor.”