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Glite Dictionary
.38-caliber

.38-caliber

2 7.9
Of a gun or bullet that has a barrel 0.38 inches wide
  • adjective
  • /ˈθɜrtiˈeɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : .38 de calibre
  • The police officer discovered a .38-caliber handgun hidden under the floorboards.
  • .38-caliber revolver
  • .38-caliber pistol
  • .38-caliber bullet

Examples

  • He loaded the magazine with several .38-caliber cartridges before heading to the range.

  • Without the knowledge of him or his wife, their children had gotten hold of his .38-caliber handgun and fired it, hitting him.

    Blog text (14)

  • She retrieved a .38-caliber revolver and returned outside, where she found her husband holding the barking pit bull with both hands.

    Blog text (17)

  • Investigators believe Derek Carlile's son grabbed a .38-caliber revolver from a cup holder bin on the floor of the family van.

    Blog text (24)

  • On Friday, troopers spokeswoman Beth Ipsen said one of Lamb's children accidentally shot Lamb with a .38-caliber handgun while Lamb split and stacked firewood.

    Blog text (14)

  • The .38-caliber revolver had a smooth trigger pull, making it easy to shoot accurately.

Synonyms

.38 caliber
vs.38-caliber
  • Specialized
3 7.9

A gun or bullet about 0.38 inch wide

has identical meaning but is written with a hyphen

How Big

.45-caliber
  • Specialized
1 7.5
.38-caliber
  • Specialized
2 7.9
.22-caliber
  • Specialized
1 6.5

Surface Forms

.38-caliber positive
.38 caliber positive

Etymology

The word .38-caliber joins the number .38 with caliber, and caliber comes from an old Arabic word qalib meaning 'mould' used for shaping metal. So .38 tells you the gun's barrel or bullet is '0.38 inches' across, which is why .38-caliber names the size.