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Definition of flintlock

flintlock

/ˈflɪnt.lɑːk/
flint · lock
Plural:flintlocks
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flintlock Lexical Profile

flintlock Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A historical firearm equipped with a flintlock firing mechanism.

Example

"The museum displayed a beautifully preserved flintlock carried by an officer during the American Revolutionary War."

2

An obsolete firing mechanism for a firearm, functioning by striking a piece of flint against a steel plate to produce sparks that ignite gunpowder.

Example

"The invention of the flintlock greatly improved the reliability of infantry weapons in the seventeenth century."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for flintlock

• Nearby Words

fling
flint
flint river
flintlock
flinty
flip
flip-flop

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the 1640s, formed as a compound of 'flint' and 'lock', referring to the mechanism that uses a piece of flint to strike sparks.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Flintlock. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/flintlock
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