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carabine

rifle

noun kah-rah-BEEN Rare
People & Society Military

Origin: from French carabin (soldier)

Usage Note

Carabine denotes a light, long-barrelled firearm, lighter than a standard rifle. It derives from carabin, an old word for a light-cavalry soldier. The colloquial adjective carabiné means 'severe' or 'hefty', as in un rhume carabiné ('a nasty cold').

Examples

"Le chasseur portait une carabine sur l'épaule."

Natural Translation

The hunter carried a rifle on his shoulder.

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