What does revolver mean?
A revolver is a handgun whose mechanism revolves a cylinder containing several chambers. As the cylinder turns, each chamber is brought into alignment with the barrel, allowing the weapon to fire repeatedly without automatic loading. Unlike many modern pistols, a traditional revolver does not automatically eject spent cartridge cases after each shot. The word commonly appears in legal and firearms discussions, as well as in Westerns, crime fiction, and historical writing, where it can evoke lawlessness, confrontation, or frontier imagery. Its distinctive rotating cylinder also explains the name, derived from revolve. Although pistols and revolvers are sometimes used interchangeably in general speech, revolver is the more specific term for a handgun with this particular action.
nounA handgun with a rotating cylinder containing several chambers, allowing cartridges to be fired repeatedly without manually ejecting spent cases. The term is especially associated with traditional, non-automatic handguns.
- A handgun with a rotating cylinder that holds multiple cartridges and chambers.
"He drew the revolver slowly and pointed it toward the door."
"The detective found an empty revolver beside the window."
"Historical films often portray the outlaw drawing a revolver and firing a final shot before making a dramatic escape."
The standard plural is formed by adding -s.
"The shop sells handguns and revolvers to licensed customers."
The name “revolver” comes from the cylinder’s dramatic rotation: each turn lines up one chamber for firing, giving the weapon its distinctive clockwork action.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does revolver come from?
Revolver was formed in the 19th century from revolve, with the suffix -er, and was named for the rotating cylinder that moves the chambers past the firing mechanism. Revolve ultimately comes from Latin revolvere, meaning “to roll back” or “turn back,” from re- (“back”) and volvere (“to turn”). The same root appears in revolution and other words associated with turning or reversal.
How revolver is actually used
Revolver is precise firearms terminology, but it also carries cultural and literary associations with the Old West, outlaws, detectives, and violent confrontation. In legal and technical contexts, it distinguishes a handgun with a rotating cylinder from a self-loading pistol.
Easily confused with revolver
A revolver is a specific type of handgun with a rotating cylinder, whereas pistol is often used more broadly for a handgun and may include revolvers as well as self-loading pistols.