Revolver
/rɪˈvɒl.vər/noun
A handgun with a rotating cylinder containing multiple chambers for cartridges.
Did you know?The firearm sense emerged in the 19th century because each pull of the trigger rotated the cylinder, allowing successive chambers to move into firing position.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wel-
“To turn, roll, or revolve.”
Classical Latin
Latin
volvere
“To roll, turn, or cause something to move around.”
Late Latin
Latin
revolvere
“To roll back, turn around, or revolve repeatedly.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
revolvere
“To return by turning back; to revolve.”
16th Century
English
revolve
“To move in a circular path or turn repeatedly.”
1830s
English
revolver
“A firearm named for its rotating cylinder.”
Modern English
English
revolver
“A repeating handgun whose cylinder rotates to align cartridges with the barrel.”