flintlock

noun

flint·​lock ˈflint-ˌläk How to pronounce flintlock (audio)
1
: a lock for a gun or pistol having a flint in the hammer for striking a spark to ignite the charge
2
: a firearm fitted with a flintlock

Illustration of flintlock

Illustration of flintlock
  • flintlock 2

Examples of flintlock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web My first rifle had been a flintlock that had been given to me by an old friend, Ed Wesson, the gunsmith. Outdoor Life, 23 Nov. 2023 Modern gun technologies are far, far more deadly than the one-shot flintlocks of the 18th century—shouldn’t that matter? Robert J. Spitzer, Time, 6 June 2023 According to the study, a colonial soldier with an 18th century flintlock musket could kill 43 people in an hour, while a soldier in the Civil War era using a rifle with the Minie ball (a conoidal bullet adopted by the US Army in 1855) could kill 102 people in an hour. Jennifer Tucker, CNN, 20 Oct. 2021 That flintlock pistol may prove to be more than an Easter egg — it’s a treasure trove of storytelling potential. Richard Newby, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2022 Highly flammable, amadou has also served as tinder for flintlock guns and prehistoric campfires. Kenneth Miller, Discover Magazine, 30 May 2013 Remington, the country’s oldest gun maker, began making flintlock rifles in 1816. From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 13 Nov. 2021 Remington, the country's oldest gun maker, began making flintlock rifles in 1816. CBS News, 8 Nov. 2021 To date, the legal debate over the Second Amendment has largely assumed that gun technology unfolds over time according to a single, linear logic, from the colonial flintlock musket to the modern AR-15. Jennifer Tucker, CNN, 20 Oct. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flintlock.' 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

1683, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of flintlock was in 1683

Dictionary Entries Near flintlock

Cite this Entry

“Flintlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flintlock. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

flintlock

noun
flint·​lock ˈflint-ˌläk How to pronounce flintlock (audio)
1
: a lock for a gun using a flint to ignite the charge
2
: a gun fitted with a flintlock

More from Merriam-Webster on flintlock

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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