Winchester

Definition

A Winchester rifle, typically a lever-action repeater.

Etymology

From Middle English Wynchester, Winchestre, from Old English Wintanċeaster, from Latin Venta Belgārum (literally “Venta of the Belgae”), perhaps ultimately from Proto-Celtic *wentā (“town, place”), Proto-Indo-European *h₁wen- (“place (?)”) + Old English ċeaster, from Latin castra (“camp”). The bottle is named for the former customary units of the English city. The rifle is named named after American businessman Oliver Winchester (1810–1880). The computer disk is named for the rifle.

Example Sentences

• "H. Rider Haggard, King Solomon's Mines "Give me my express," I said, laying down the Winchester, and he handed it to me cocked."
• "Almost simultaneously Jim Taylor and Kit Hunter shot at each other with Winchesters."
• "And besides, Winchesters of the nonremovable sort work fine—why bother complicating things with cartridges[…]"