four by two

A soldier cleans the rifle barrel with a four by two.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A piece of cloth used for cleaning gun barrels: "four by two" refers to a strip of flannel or other material, typically four inches by two inches in size, used by soldiers to wipe and maintain the inside of a rifle barrel.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The soldier took out his four by two to clean his weapon after the training exercise. (A cleaning cloth for a gun barrel.)
  • He asked the quartermaster for a fresh four by two to remove the powder residue. (A standard-issue cloth for rifle maintenance.)

Advanced Usage

• "to use a four by two": to perform a specific cleaning task on a firearm.
  • After firing, it is essential to use a four by two to prevent rust. (The cloth is used for routine gun care.)

Variants and Related Words

• Four-by-two (n): an alternative hyphenated spelling of the same term.
  • The four-by-two was issued as part of the standard cleaning kit. (Same cloth for gun maintenance.)

Synonyms

• Cleaning patch: a small piece of cloth used for cleaning firearms.
• Gun rag: a piece of fabric used for wiping guns (informal).

Related Idioms

• "four by two" (as a fixed term in military slang): refers specifically to the cleaning cloth, not a general measure.
  • He always kept a four by two in his pocket for field maintenance. (The cloth is a standard part of a soldier's kit.)