small arm

noun

: a handheld firearm (such as a handgun or shoulder arm)

—usually used in plural

Synonyms

• arm
• firearm
• gun
• heat [slang]
• piece

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

Cheap small arms and revolvers are very popular, too, such as the Jennings JA-25, a small 22 caliber pistol, or the Smith and Wesson Model 10, a classic handgun used by the U.S. military and law enforcement for over a century. —Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 22 May 2024

Some Hamas fighters took this to an extreme, killing several civilians on the Al-Rashid coastal highway using small arms and machine guns. —Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024

Also, a slew of small arms from Libya penetrated the black market in the 2010s, experts say. —Isabelle Chapman, CNN, 13 Oct. 2023

Opening last October, the $41 million facility includes, among other things, a 21-lane indoor small arms range and video training simulators. —Shawn Raymundo, The Arizona Republic, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1674, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

small arm

noun

: a firearm fired while held in the hands

—usually used in plural