breech-loading, vbl. n.
(ˈbriːtʃləʊdɪŋ)
A. The method of loading (fire-arms) at the breech.
| 1866 Daily Tel. 26 May, The practice made with the imperfect ‘needle-gun’..proves that breech-loading..perfectly admits of introduction into warfare. 1874 Boutell Arms & Arm. 219 The idea of breech-loading formed a part of the original conception of the cannon itself. |
B. attrib. That is loaded at the breech.
| 1858 Greener Gunnery 17 Breech-loading guns cannot be made sufficiently durable to yield any reasonable return for the extra expense and trouble. 1861 Sat. Rev. 30 Nov. 559 This complaint..indicated an opinion that the breech-loading Armstrong 100-pounders..are not powerful guns. 1880 Standard 14 Dec., The 43-ton breech-loading gun. |