(...and probably will be for a while.)
(...and probably will be for a while.)
I am attempting to put together a listing of firearms related words in several languages. If you know of any additional terms that you feel should be included, or any corrections or if you can supply any missing terms please contact me by clicking here. Credit will be given for your assistance. If you are looking for a term not listed here please note that the original printed list of the German and French terms was too voluminous to put up in its entirety so I have other terms available. If I have messed up the spelling of any of these terms please let me know. I have been informed that the book The World's Submachine Guns [Machine Pistols] Vol.1 by Thomas B. Nelson, International Small Arms Publishers, Cologne, Germany 1963, has a 37-page glossary ("Technical Guide") to firearms terms in 22 languages.
My thanks to Elmar Bilgeri, Austria; Claus Gregor, Germany; Ruben Nasser, Paraguay; Piero Fiaccadori, Italy; Ray Theroux, Canada, Volker Gebert, Germany, Giulio Dalla Pria, Italy; Nat Makarevitch, France; and Frederik, Jorge, Paul Seibold, and especially Richard Iotti for their generous assistance with this project.
| International Firearms Glossary | ||||
| English Term | German | French |
Italian |
Spanish |
| Accuracy Test cartridge | Anschuss Patrone | |||
| Action; breech; bolt; etc | Verschluss, Schlitten | actionner la culasse |
Azione |
Mecanismo, Accion, cerrojo, rec�mera |
| Action; locking mechanism | Verriegelung, Schlossmechanismus | verrouiller |
Meccanismo di blocco |
Mecanismo de del cierre o debloqueo |
| Barrel | Lauf | canon |
Canna |
Ca��n |
| Barrel (rifled) | gezogener Lauf | canon ray� | Canna (rigata) | Ca��n de �nima estriada, Canna rigata |
| Barrel (smoothbore) | glatter Lauf | canon lisse | Canna (liscia) | Ca��n de �nima lisa, Canna lisa |
| Barrel bushing | Laufhaltebuchse | bague de r�duction |
Boccola della canna |
Casquillo guia del ca��n, Boccola guidacanna |
| Barrel length | Laufl�nge | longuer de canon |
Lunghezza della canna |
Longitud del ca��n |
| Barrel lugs | Laufwarzen | attaches de canon |
Tennoni della canna |
Tetones del ca��n, Attacco della canna |
| Bipod | Zweibein | bipied |
Bipode |
B�pode |
| Blank firing adapter | Man�verpatronenger�t | dispositif de tir � blanc | Adattatore per tiro in bianco | Brocal de salvas |
| Blowback action | Feder-Masseverschluss | fonctionnement par pression directe des gaz (sans verrou) |
Chiusura a massa |
Acci�n por retroceso simple |
| Bolt | Verschlu�bolzen, Kammer | verrou | Otturatore | Cierre |
| Bullet (projectile) | Geschoss (Projektil) | balle, projectile |
Proiettile |
Bala, proyectil |
| Bullet, jacketed | Mantelgeschoss | balle chemise |
Proiettile camiciato |
Proyectil blindado o encamisada |
|
Bullet, FMJ |
Vollmantelgeschoss |
balle blind�e |
Proiettile blindato |
Bala totalamente encamisada or Proyectil blindado o encamisada |
| Bullet, hollow point | Hohlspitzgeschoss | balle pointe creuse |
Proiettile a punta cava |
Proyectilde punta hueca |
|
Bullet, pointed |
Spitzgeschoss |
balle conique |
Proiettile appuntito |
Proyectilde de ojiva aguzada |
| Bullet, round nose | Rundkopfgeschoss | balle ronde |
Proietiile a punta tonda |
Proyectil de de ojiva redondeada |
| Bullet, wad-cutter | Wad-cutter-geschoss | balle wad-cutter |
Proiettile wad cutter |
Proyectil de punta plana |
| Bullet-resistant vest | kugelsichere Weste | gilet pare-balles |
Giubbotto anti-proiettile |
Chaleco antibalas |
| Cartridge | Patrone | cartouche |
Cartuccia |
Cartucho |
| Cartridge case | Patronenh�lse | douille/manchon |
Bossolo |
Vaina o casquillo |
| Chamber | Patronenlager | chambre | Camera di cartuccia | Rec�mara |
| Checkering | Fischhaut | quadrillage |
Zigrinatura |
Cuadrillado, picado, segrinado |
| Closed bolt firing | Zuschiessen | |||
| Cock (to cock) | Spannen | armer le chien |
Armare |
Armar, montar, amartillar |
| Cocking lever | Spannhebel | levier d'armement |
Leva d�armamento |
Palanca de armado/montar |
| Cocking piece | Spannst�ck | masselotte |
Coda o bottone di armamento |
Pieza armado/montar |
| Crane (swing-out revolver cylinder) | Kran | verrou de barillet |
Giogo |
Braza del cilindro |
| Cylinder (revolver) | Walze, Trommel | barilett |
Tamburo |
Cylindro, Tambor |
|
Decock (lower the hammer safely without firing) |
entspannen |
d�sarmer le chien |
Disarmare il cane |
Desamartillar, desmontar |
|
Decocking lever |
Entspannhebel |
levier de d�sarement |
Leva di disarmamento |
Palanca de desamartillar |
| Disconnector | Unterbrecher | s�parateur |
Disconnettore |
desconector |
|
Eject, Ejector |
aussto�en, Ejektor/Auswerfer |
�jecteur |
Estrattore |
Expulsar, expulsor |
|
Ejection (of fired cartridge case) |
auswerfen |
ejection |
Estrarre |
Expulsi�n |
| Ejection port | Auswerffenster | fen�tre d'�jection |
Porta di estrazione |
Ventana de expulsion |
|
Extract, Extractor |
ausziehen, Auszieher |
�xtracteur |
Estrarre, Estrattore |
Extraer, extractor |
|
Eye relief (space between the eye and the ocular lens of a telescope) |
Okularabstand |
d�gagement oculaire |
Distanza pupilla d'uscita |
Alivio ocular, eye relief, Distanza oculare |
|
Feeding (of cartridges from magazine to chamber) |
Zuf�hrung |
chambrer |
Alimentare |
Alimentaci�n |
|
Firing pin |
Schlagbolzen |
percuteur |
Percussore |
Aguja percutora |
|
Firing pin, as part of hammer |
Schlagnase |
aiguille de percussion |
Percussore realizzato nel cane |
Martillo percutor |
| Firing pin (striker) | Schlagst�ck | marteau |
Percussore |
Aguja percutora lanzadar |
| Firing pin spring | Schlagst�ckfeder | ressort de percuteur |
Molla del Percussore |
Resorte del percutor |
|
Flare gun; flare pistol |
Leuchtpistole |
pistolet de signalisation, pistolet lance-fus�e |
Lanciarazzi |
Pistola de lanzabengalas |
|
Flash hider |
M�ndungsfeuerd�mpfer |
cache flamme |
Spegnifiamma |
Bocacha apagallamas |
|
Frame (of a pistol) |
Rahmen |
carcasse |
Telaio, Fusto / Cartello |
Armaz�n |
|
Front sight |
Korn |
guidon |
Mira anteriore |
Punto de mira |
| Fully automatic | ||||
| Fully automatic firearm | automatische Waffe | arme automatique |
Automatica |
Arma de fuego automatico |
| Gas operated action | Gasdrucklader | par emprunt des gaz | Azione a presa di gas | Accion por toma de gases |
|
Grip panels |
Griffschalen |
Plaques de poign�e |
Guancette |
Cachas de la empu�adura |
| Grooves, rifling | Z�ge | signature du canon | Rigature della canna | Estrias, estriado |
| Hammer | Hammer | chien |
Cane |
Martillo |
|
Hammer spur |
Hammersporn |
cr�te de chien |
Cresta del cane |
Espuela del martillo |
| Handguard | Gewehr handschutz / Geholdenziemachen | Fusil guarde-main | Guardamanos | |
| High Pressure Test Cartridge | Beschuss Patrone | |||
| Hinge | Scharnier | Articolazione | Bisagra | |
| Lands (rifling) | Felder, | cloison | Pieni di rigatura della canna | Acacaladuras (del estriado) |
|
Lever action |
Unterhebelrepetierer |
� levier |
Azione a leva |
Acci�n de palanca |
|
Loading gate |
Ladeklappe |
fen�tre/porti�re de chargement |
Porta di caricamento |
Ventana de carga |
|
Locking |
Verriegelung |
verrouillage |
Blocco |
Bloqueo |
| Locking Lugs | Verschlu�warzen | attache de verrou | Tennoni di chiusura | Tetones de bloque |
| Machine gun | Maschinengewehr | milrailleuse |
Mitragliatrice |
Ametralladora |
| Machine pistol (SMG) | Maschinenpistole | pistolet-milraillette, mitraillette |
Pistola mitragliatrice |
Pistola ametralladora |
| Magazine | Magazin | chargeur, magasin |
Caricatore |
Caragador |
|
Magazine (drum) |
Trommelmagazin |
chargeur-tambour |
Caricatore a tamburo |
Cargador (de tambor) |
| Magazine follower | Zubringer | Plateau de �l�vatricer |
Elevatore |
Teja elevadora, Elevatore del caricatore |
| Magazine release (button) | Magazinl�seknopf | verrou de chargeur |
Pulsante di sgancio caricatore |
Retenida del cargador |
|
Magazine spring |
Magazinfeder |
resort de chargeur |
Molla del caricatore |
Muelle del cargador |
|
Magazine safety, which prevents firing if the magazine is not in place |
Magazinsicherung |
s�curite de chargeur |
Sicura al caricatore |
Seguro de cargador |
|
Mainspring |
Schlagfeder |
maitre-ressort |
Molla di recupero |
Muelle recuperador |
|
Muzzle |
M�ndung |
bouche |
Volata |
Boca de fuego |
|
Muzzle brake |
M�ndungsbremse |
frein de bouche |
Freno a bocca |
Freno de boca |
|
Night sighting system / apparatus / assembly |
Nachtsichtger�t |
syst�me de vis�e nocturne |
Mire notturne |
Miras noctumas |
| Open bolt firing | Aufschiessen | |||
|
Pepperbox |
B�ndelrevolver |
poivri�re |
Pistola a canne multiple |
Pistola "pimentaro" |
|
Pivoting breechblock lock |
Schwenkriegelverschluss |
verrou pivotant |
Chiusura otturatore a blocco rotante |
Bloqueo del cierre basculante |
| Powder (propellant) | Pulver | poudre |
Polvere da sparo |
P�lvora (propelente) |
| Powder scale | Pulverwaage | balance (�) poudre |
Bilancia per polvere |
Balanza |
| Primer | Z�ndh�tchen | amorce |
Innesco |
Fulminante, c�psula iniciador |
| Primer pocket (of the cartridge case) | Z�ndglocke | alv�ole � amorce |
Tasca dell�innesco |
Alojamiento del fulminante |
|
Rear sight (notch) |
Kimme |
hausse, gran de mire |
Tacca di mira |
Alza(de muesca) |
| Rear sight (leaf) | Kimmenblalt | feuillet |
Mira posteriore a foglia |
Alaza(de librillo) |
| Receiver | Geh�use | boite de culasse |
Ricevitore |
Cajon de mecanismos |
| Recoil operated firearm | R�ckstosslader | automatique par recul |
Arma semiautomatica |
Arma de accion por retroceso de masas |
|
Recoil spring |
Schliessfeder |
ressort r�cup�rateur |
Molla di recupero |
Muelle amortiguardor-recuperador |
|
Recoil; kick |
R�cksto� |
recul |
Rinculo |
Retroceso |
| Reticle | Absehen | r�ticule | Reticolo di mira | Reticulo |
| Revolver | Revolver | revolver |
Pistola a rotazione |
Revolver |
|
Rib |
Laufschiene |
nervure, ailette |
Bindella |
Nervadura, Cintura |
|
Rifle |
B�chse, Gewehr |
fusil |
Fucile |
Rifle, fusil |
|
Rifle (carbine) |
Karabiner |
carabine, mousqueton |
Carabina |
Fusil (carabina) |
| Rifle Rest | Gewehrauflage | support de tir | Rest per fucile | Apoyo del fusil |
|
Rifle sights on a shotgun |
B�chsenvisier |
grain d'orge |
Congegni di mira (mirino e tacca di mira per carabina) |
Miras de fusil, Mire di un fucile a pompa |
| Rifling | Gezogen | |||
|
Rotating barrel action (Gatling) |
Drehlaufverschluss |
� canons rotatifs |
Azione a canna rotante |
Sistema de ca�ones giratorios (tipo Gatling) |
|
Safety |
Sicherung |
s�ret� |
Sicura |
Seguro |
| Sear | Spannst�ck | g�chette |
Controcane, or Dente di aggancio del cane |
Fiador |
|
Semiautomatic |
Halbautomat |
Semi-automatique |
Semiautomatica |
Semiautomatico |
| Shot | Schrot | plomb |
Colpo |
Cartucho disparo |
| Shot (buck) | Postenschrot | ch�vronlie |
Pallettoni |
Cartucho de postas |
|
Shotgun |
Schrotflinte |
fusil de chasse |
Fucile a canna liscia |
Escopeta |
| Side plate | Seitenblech | Cartella Laterale | Platina | |
| Sights | Visierung | organes de vis�e |
Mire |
Punta de mira |
| Sight (front) | Vorder Visierung | hausse |
Mira anteriore |
Punto |
|
Sights, fixed |
Starre Visierung |
hausse fixe |
Mire fisse |
Miras fijas |
| Sights, adjustable | Verstellbare Visierung | hausse r�glable |
Mire regolabili |
Miras ajustables |
|
Sight radius |
Visierlinienl�nge |
longuer de mire |
Distanza tra lemire |
Radio entre miras |
|
Sight--Red Dot (eg, Aim-Point) |
Leuchtpunktvisier |
Mira a punto rosso |
Visor de punto rojo | |
|
Slide (of semiautomatic pistol) |
Schlitten |
glissi�re |
Carrello |
Corredera |
|
Slide action |
Vorderschaftrepetierer |
Azione a carello, portaotturatore, (pump action shotgun) - azione manuale a pompa | Accion de corredera o tromb�m | |
|
Slide stop lever |
Schlittenfanghebel |
verrou de glissi�re |
Leva di apertura |
Retenida de la corredera |
|
Sniper rifle |
Scharfsch�tzengewehr |
fusil de pr�cision |
Fucile da cecchino |
Fusil de francotirador |
|
Spare magazine |
Reservemagazin |
chargeur de rechange |
Magazzino di riserva |
Cargador de reserva |
|
Suppressor; "'silencer" |
Schalld�mpfer |
silencieux |
Silenziatore |
Supresor, silenciador |
|
Swing-out cylinder (of revolver) |
ausschwenkbare Trommel |
Tamburo |
Tambor basculante (rev�lvor) | |
| Target | Ziel (scheibe) | Bersaglio | Blanco | |
|
Target revolver |
Scheibenrevolver |
Pistolet de pr�cision |
Pistola a rotazione da tiro |
Rev�lver para tiro de precision |
|
Telescope sight |
Zielfernrohr |
lunelle de vis�e |
Cannocchiale |
Mira telesc�pica |
| Telescope mount | Zielfernrohrmontage | montage (pour) lunelle |
Supporto del cannocchiale |
Visor telesc�pio |
| Throat | �bergangskonus | gorge | Throat | Garganta de la rec�mara |
|
Tilt-up barrel; |
Kipplauf |
m�canism � brisure |
Azione con castello ad apertura basculante, (any break action is basculante) |
Ca��n basculante |
| Tip up (revolver) | Castello (Frame) Articolato Superiormente | Rev�lver de ca��n basculante | ||
| Top break (revolver) | Castello (Frame) Articolato Inferiormente | Rev�lver de ca��n basculante | ||
|
Transfer bar |
�bertragungsstange |
Barra di traferimento |
Bara de transferencia | |
|
Trigger |
Abzug |
d�parte |
Grilletto |
Gatillo |
|
Trigger guard |
Abzugb�gel |
pontet |
Guardia del grilletto |
Guardamonte |
|
Trigger weight |
Abzugsgewicht |
poids de d�part |
Peso di sgancio |
Presci�n del disarador |
| Twist, spin | Drall | Passo di rigatura | Paso del estriado | |
|
Unlocking |
Entriegelung |
d�verrouillage |
Sblocco, sbloccare |
Desbloqueo |
In addition to the above Volker Gebert sent me the following reloading and ballistics related terms in German, and now some in Italian courtesy of Giulio Dalla.
| Geman | Italian | |
| Ballistics, Internal | Innere Ballistik | Balistica interna |
| Ballistics, External | �ussere Ballistik | Balistica esterna |
| Ballistics Terminal | Zielballistik | Balistioca terminale |
|
Bullet jump |
Freiflug |
Salto del projeciettile o volo libero del proiettile in canna |
|
Caliper |
Schiebelehre |
Calibro |
|
Cant |
Verkanten |
|
|
Cartridge case |
Patronenh�lse |
Bossolo |
|
Case body |
H�lsenk�rper |
Corpo del bossolo |
|
Case head |
H�lsenboden |
Teste del bossolo |
|
Case mouth |
H�lsenmund |
Boco del bossolo |
|
Case neck |
H�lsenhals |
Collo del bossolo |
|
Case shoulder |
Schulter |
|
|
Case web |
verst�rkter unterer H�lsenbereich |
|
|
Chamber |
Patronenlagerager |
Camera di scoppio |
| Chamber pressure | Druck im Patronenlager | Pressione della camera di scoppio |
|
Chronograph |
Geschwindigkeitsme�ger�t |
Chronografo |
|
Cleaning agent |
Reinigungsmittel |
Prodotti per pulizia |
|
Compressed load |
H�lse bis zum Mund gef�llt |
Carica compressa |
|
Concentricity gauge |
Rundlaufpr�fer |
|
|
Deflection |
Ablenkung |
|
|
Die |
Matrize |
Matrice |
|
Die-full length |
Vollkalibriermatrize |
Matrice a tutta lunghezza |
|
Die-seater |
Setzmatrize |
Matrice mettipalla |
| Freebore | �bergangskonus | Spazio fra la palla e inizo rigatura |
|
Gauge |
Me�lehre |
|
|
Impact energy |
Auftreffenergie |
Energia de impatto |
|
Load density |
Ladedichte |
Densit� della carica |
| Maximum pressure | Maximaldruck | Pressione massima |
|
Meplat |
Gescho�spitze |
|
|
Mirage |
Hitzeflimmern |
|
|
MOA |
Winkelminute |
Minuto d'angolo |
|
Muzzle flash |
M�ndungsfeuer |
Vampa di bocca |
|
Muzzle velocity |
M�ndungsgeschwindigkeit |
Velocita alla bocca della canna |
|
Neck |
Halskalibriermatrize |
Collo |
|
Ogive |
zur Spitze hin gekr�mmte Gescho�kontur |
Ogiva |
| Overall length (OAL) | Gesamtl�nge | Lunghezza totale della canna |
| Powder (Ball) | Kugelpulver | Polvere sferica |
| Powder (Extruded) | St�bchenpulver | Polvere estrusa |
| Powder (Singlebase) | Einbasiges Pulver | Polvere a base singola |
| Powder (Doublebase) | Doppelbasiges Pulver | Polvere doppia base |
|
Powder burn rate |
Abbrandgeschwindigkeit |
Velocit� di combustione delle polvere |
|
Powder charge |
Pulverladung |
Carcia della polvere |
|
Powder measure |
Pulverf�llger�t |
Dosapolvere |
|
Powder scale |
Pulverwaage |
Bilancia dosapolvere |
| Primer pocket | Z�ndglocke | |
|
Reloading |
Wiederladen |
Ricatcia |
|
Seating depth |
Setztiefe |
Profondit� di inserimento della palla |
| Sectional density | Querschnittsbelastung * | Densiti� sezionale |
|
SEE (secondary explosion effect) |
Nachzunden bei reduzierter Ladung |
Effetto di esplosione secondaria |
|
Shooting range |
Schie�platz |
Distanza di sparo |
|
Sight adjustment |
Visiereinstellung |
Correzione delle mire |
|
Taper |
Verj�ngung |
|
|
Throat |
�bergangskonus |
|
|
Trajectory |
Flugbahn |
Traiettoria |
|
Twist, spin |
Drall |
|
| * Not exactly. What we call "sectional density" is W / (Bullet diameter2) while in German practice the equivalent measurement is W / (Cross sectional area of the bullet). Therefore our method of computing sectional density gives numbers that are about 25 percent less that the German formula. | ||
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Disclaimer
As far as I know all the information presented above is correct and I have attempted to ensure that it is. However, I am not responsible for any errors, omissions, or damages resulting from the use or misuse of this information, nor for you doing something stupid with it. (Don't you hate these disclaimers? So do I, but there are people out there who refuse to be responsible for their own actions and who will sue anybody to make a buck.)
Updated 2014-09-23