Handgun is a common term that covers both pistols and revolvers. It is an accurate term, not something made up, like “assault weapon” which was intended to have negative connotations in order to facilitate civilian disarmament.
Dear Merriam-Webster: How are you?
When did the word “handgun “ first appear in your dictionary?” Tthe word “handgun” does not appear in your 1887 dictionary of which I have a paper hardback copy.
But the word “pistol” is defined latter therein as “A short firearm intended to be aimed and fired from one hand.” p.642. I do not recall ever hearing the word “handgun “ or seeing it in print in the 20th Century.
Yor online dictionary Dec 7, 2023 , defines “pistol” as “: a handgun whose chamber is integral with the barrel
broadly : HANDGUN “
Your online dictionary defines :”handgun” as “: a firearm (such as a revolver or pistol) designed to be held and fired with one hand.”
An AR15 , any rifle, any shotgun, small cannons, etc., can be held with one hand and fired with one hand. You guys apparently do not know any thing about guns. If you go to the gun range and try to shoot a rifle with one hand it`s easy. How do you know what a gun is “designed for” ? You can read the mental intentions of the gun`s designer ? This is appears to be nonseense.
The one word “handgun” does not appear in 1972 encyclopedias.The term “handgun” appears to be a made up word by somebody to substitute for the word “pistol”. New York State has a “Pistol” license requirement but not a “handgun” license. NY State has a NY State Pistol etc Association but not a NY State Handgun Association” The word “Handgun” appears to obfuscate the definition of “pistol’.
Please fix your dictionary to reflect the true meanings of words from you previous editions. The 1972 dictionary says that “handheld cannons” could be held in one hand. Ergo, you are defining small cannons as “handguns”” Definitions should be concise and clear as to their meanings, not obtuse as “handgun” definition which is a recently made up term. This appears to redefine the term “pistol” ,.. Ths handgun entry in your diictionary appears to be to be propaganda. I am dumb but I aint this stupid.
viz. “Filipinos fighting the United State Army resorted to making their own firearms. This handmade gun from around 1900 harkens back to the hand cannon. The gun was muzzle-loaded and the charge was set off by applying fire to a touchhole in the side of the barrel.”
https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/stories/hand-cannon-very-early-and-heavy-firearm
“hand cannon”
The word you’ve entered isn’t in the dictionary. Click on a spelling suggestion below or try again using the search bar above.-” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hand%20cannon
To reiterate, in all due respevct, your company doesn`t appear to know what it is doing. when it comes to defining firearms.