[NotInDCru?]

Although not specific to a given "arm", are there any history buffs out there that can tell me where the term "firearm" came about? Please list all references might be of interest for research. Thanks :D

[rcmodel]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_firearms

Trying to trick us into doing a research paper for ya huh? :D

rc

[rock hunter]

Pretty simple if you seperate the two words. I should think the term fire is the propellant, which is explosive fire. and the term arm is the defining description of arm's, ie weapons.

[Ron James]

do believe the term originated from the word usage of Fred Flint stone, He stuck his arm in a open fire to see if it was hot, when he pulled it out he screamed , ' Look, Fire Arm". Or perhaps not.:)

[Jim K]

The term "fire arm" is used in English but the equivalent of "fire arm" or "fire weapon" is used in every language I know.

The early firearms not only spouted fire but were ignited by fire, so "fire weapon" or "fire arm" seems a natural.

Jim

[45crittergitter]

Arms in the sense of weapons, comes from the Latin word arma, meaning war equipment. Arma was one of a small group of Latin words that existed only in the plural; they had no singular form. In the case of arms, English follows this old and illogical Latin rule. Arms came into English by way of the French word armes, which was introduced by the Normans. The native Anglo-Saxon word was waepen, from which weapon comes.

Add "fire" for one that uses powder and "fires," and you get "firearm"

[Duke of Doubt]

Ron James beat me to it. But to correct an inexactitude, the term "firearm" was invented by one "Billie-Jo-Bob Brain" on a Bangor Saturday night. The evening's festivities included appearances by Mr. Walker, Mr. Beam, and of course the ubiquitous and award-winning Mr. Pabst. At some point, the integrity of a kerosene lantern was compromised. Mr. Billie-Jo-Bob Brain came running out of his camp with both upper appendages aflame, shouting, "Fire! Arm!" Yeah, he hadn't even seen what had happened to the other one, yet. Still, those were good clams, that night. Ayuh.