bolt-action

adjective

bolt-ac·​tion ˈbōlt-ˈak-shən How to pronounce bolt-action (audio)
of a firearm
: loaded by means of a manually operated bolt

Examples of bolt-action in a Sentence

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.
Most of his kills came slowly, a single shot from his bolt-action M40 after hours of waiting. Clay Risen, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2024 The two could hear the bolt-action rifle and the sizzling sound of lead ripping through the air. Danielle Bacher, Peoplemag, 28 Aug. 2023 That early bolt-action slug gun has since evolved into the 12 gauge Model 212 and 20 gauge Model 220. Tony Hansen, Outdoor Life, 22 June 2023 During a search in April of the home Teixeira shared with his mother and stepfather in Dighton, FBI agents found a gun locker about two feet from his bed containing handguns, bolt-action rifles, shotguns, an AK-style high-capacity weapon, and a gas mask, according to court filings. Travis Andersen, BostonGlobe.com, 21 June 2023 Fritz accomplished this goal by combining benchrest bolt-action rifle technology with a rifled shotgun barrel. Tony Hansen, Outdoor Life, 22 June 2023 During a search in April of the Dighton home Teixeira shared with his mother and stepfather, FBI agents found a gun locker about two feet from his bed containing handguns, bolt-action rifles, shotguns, an AK-style high-capacity weapon, and a gas mask, according to court filings. Shelley Murphy, BostonGlobe.com, 21 June 2023 During a search last month of the Dighton home Teixeira shares with his mother and stepfather, FBI agents found a gun locker about two feet from his bed containing handguns, bolt-action rifles, shotguns, an AK-style high-capacity weapon, and a gas mask, according to court filings. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 12 May 2023 This is an impressive debut for Daniel Defense, which is a newcomer to the high-end bolt-action rifle scene. John B. Snow, Field & Stream, 4 May 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bolt-action was in 1896

Dictionary Entries Near bolt-action

Cite this Entry

“Bolt-action.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bolt-action. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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