assault rifle

== English == === Etymology === Calque of German Sturmgewehr (literally “storm rifle”). The Maschinenpistole 44 was called the Sturmgewehr by Adolf Hitler, whence it was renamed to represent the separate class of firearm it represented. === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /əˈsɒlt ˈɹaɪfəl/, /əˈsɔːlt ˈɹaɪfəl/ (US) IPA(key): /əˈsɔlt ˈɹaɪfəl/ (cot–caught merger) IPA(key): /əˈsɑlt ˈɹaɪfəl/ === Noun === assault rifle (plural assault rifles) A military select-fire rifle or carbine that fires an intermediate-power cartridge, from a detachable magazine. (colloquial) Any firearm meeting the definition of an assault weapon, and in the form of a rifle. ==== Usage notes ==== Especially in the US, some or all types of semi automatic rifles (assault weapons) are sometimes referred to as assault rifles. ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== automatic rifle battle rifle machine carbine machine gun machine pistol machine rifle submachine gun trench broom === Further reading === assault rifle on Wikipedia.Wikipedia