Definition

Noun: A firearm in which the ammunition is loaded into the chamber at the rear (breech) of the barrel, rather than through the muzzle.

Usage and Examples

• The invention of the breechloader was a major advancement in firearms technology, allowing for much faster reloading.
• Compared to a muzzleloader, a breechloader is safer and more efficient to operate.
• Many modern rifles and shotguns are breechloaders.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in historical and technical discussions about the evolution of weaponry from muzzle-loading to breech-loading systems.
• It can be used attributively (like an adjective) to describe related mechanisms or parts, e.g., "breechloader design" or "breechloader mechanism."

Variants and Related Words

• Breech-loading (adjective): Describing the action or mechanism of a breechloader. (e.g., a breech-loading rifle).
• Breech (noun): The rear part of a firearm barrel where the cartridge is inserted.
• Muzzleloader (noun): The antonym; a firearm loaded through the front (muzzle) of the barrel.

Synonyms

• Breech-loading gun
• Breech-loading firearm

Antonyms

• Muzzleloader

Noun

1. a gun that is loaded at the breech