blowback

Definition

A type of action where the pressure from the fired cartridge blows a sliding mechanism backward to extract the fired cartridge, chamber another cartridge, and cock the hammer.

Etymology

Deverbal from blow back.

Example Sentences

• "The Israeli UZI submachine gun, one the most easily recognized examples of a blowback firearm, is well known for its simplicity, ease of manufacture, low maintenance, and utter reliability."
• "All of the other retired C.I.A. officers who appeared before the subcommittee today acknowledged that the problem of the “domestic blowback” of agency propaganda had been a genuine problem, out most of them dismissed the mounting concern over C.I.A.'s past employment of American journalists as misguided."
• "During Congressional hearings on the agency in the mid-1970's, it was revealed that some of the agency's programs to plant false information in the foreign press had resulted in items being published by American news organizations. This phenomenon, known as blowback, was sharply criticized by the committees at the time, and the C.I.A. has since been required to take precautions so that such false information does not affect political debate in this country."