The word "handguns" is spelled as /ˈhændˌɡʌnz/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable "hand" is pronounced with the /h/ sound and the vowel /æ/, followed by the consonant cluster /nd/. The second syllable "guns" starts with the vowel /ʌ/, a short sound like in "cut", followed by the consonant /g/ and ends with the consonant /z/. This spelling accurately reflects the pronunciation of the word, which refers to a handheld firearm designed to be fired with one hand.
Handguns are compact firearms designed to be held and fired with one hand. As a type of portable firearm, they are typically smaller and lighter than long guns such as rifles and shotguns. Handguns are often referred to as pistols or revolvers, depending on their specific design.
Pistols, the most common type of handgun, feature a single chamber integrated into the barrel, which is capable of firing multiple rounds typically stored in detachable magazines. It operates through a self-loading mechanism that extracts used cartridges and loads fresh rounds into the chamber for subsequent firings. Pistols are widely used by various law enforcement agencies, military personnel, and civilians for self-defense purposes.
On the other hand, revolvers are another type of handgun characterized by a rotating cylinder that holds multiple rounds. Each chamber in the cylinder aligns with the barrel when the trigger is pulled, allowing the gun to be fired. Revolvers differ from pistols in that they do not require a self-loading mechanism, as each round is individually pre-loaded into the cylinder.
Handguns are known for their ease of concealment and mobility, making them popular choices for personal protection and law enforcement applications. They typically have short to medium-range accuracy and are chambered for various calibers, enabling users to select ammunition suitable for their specific needs and conditions.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "handgun" originates from the combination of two separate words: "hand" and "gun".
The term "hand" comes from the Old English word "hand" and can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "handuz" and the Proto-Indo-European root "ḱm̥tóm". The word "hand" refers to the part of the human body attached to the end of the arm, primarily used for grasping, holding, and manipulating objects.
On the other hand, the word "gun" has a complex etymology. It is derived from the Middle English word "gunne", which was used for a type of heavy siege engine or cannon.