(a) adj. = centre-fire, adj. 1; (b) n. = centre-fire, n. 1.

Firearms. Of a cartridge or (in early use) percussion cap: having the primer located in the centre of the base, as opposed to being distributed…

A proprietary name for: a gun made by or according to the designs of W. or W. W. Greener. Frequently attributive, designating such a gun or its…

Designating a form of cartridge for a breech-loading gun, fired by a pin thrust by the hammer of the lock into the fulminate. Also: designating a…

Of a cartridge: having the priming substance disposed round the edge, so that ignition takes place when the rim of the cartridge's base is struck…

the method of ignition used in rimfire cartridges (see rimfire, adj.); frequently attributive.

Used attributively and elliptically to describe a cartridge or breech-loading rifle designed by Flobert.

Of ammunition: linked together in a flexible strip by means of which individual cartridges are fed into a machine gun in rapid succession. Cf. belt…

In form Magnum. A gun of a type designed to fire cartridges more powerful than its calibre suggests. Frequently attributive.