Definition
breechloaders
noun
- Firearms that are loaded from the rear of the barrel (the breech) rather than from the muzzle.
Usage: plural form; historical/military context; contrasts with muzzleloaders
Examples
- The army upgraded from muskets to breechloaders in the late 19th century.
- Breechloaders were faster to reload than muzzleloaders on the battlefield.
- Civil War soldiers gradually adopted breechloaders as the conflict progressed.
- The invention of breechloaders revolutionized military tactics and firearm design.
- Hunters preferred breechloaders for their convenience and speed of operation.