noun
barrel
The tube of a firearm through which a projectile travels.
The museum guide points to the long barrel of the antique rifle.
Etymology
The older word names a cylindrical container. A firearm’s tube takes the same name from its cylindrical form, extending the container word to a different kind of hollow structure.
More examples
- The historical firearm has two barrels.
- A protective cover fits over the end of the barrel.
- The diagram identifies the barrel separately from the stock.
Forms
barrel · barrels
Similar words
- tube
- The broader shape without the firearm-specific function.