Isn't 'handgun' a term for a firearm which is used held in the hand/hands - originally to distinguish it from one which is mounted on a carriage, swivel, or whatever?
As far as weapons go, what do we imagine the 'arm' part of the word 'firearm' means? I'm not sure when 'air weapon' first appeared in the Firearms Act - but 'airarm' looks and sounds odd, and if the Fleet Air Arm was already in existence at the time, the homphony would have jarred.
As far as weapons go, what do we imagine the 'arm' part of the word 'firearm' means? I'm not sure when 'air weapon' first appeared in the Firearms Act - but 'airarm' looks and sounds odd, and if the Fleet Air Arm was already in existence at the time, the homphony would have jarred.