WordNet
n. a firearm that is held and fired with one hand [syn: pistol, handgun, shooting iron]
Wikipedia
A side arm or sidearm is a weapon, usually a handgun but sometimes a dagger, knife or other mêlée weapon, which is worn on the body in a holster or sheath (in the case of a knife or dagger) to permit immediate access and use. A sidearm is typically required equipment for military officers and is usually carried by law enforcement personnel. Usually, uniformed personnel of these services wear their weapons openly, while plainclothes personnel have their sidearms concealed under their clothes. A sidearm may be carried alone, or as a back-up to a primary weapon such as a rifle or carbine.
Usage examples of "side arm".
He kept his hand hovering near his side arm, without actually resting his fingers on the grip.
As he slammed the door he saw the guard struggling to his feet and reaching for his side arm.
He selected a six-millimeter grav rifle from the weapons locker to back up his side arm, and Tamman chose an energy gun, but Sandy bore only her grav gun and a satchel of grenades.
Like them, she wore her flight suit, her side arm riding low on her hip, and if she looked like the newest of new recruits, none of them were fooled.
One of the Marines, in dress greens, carrying a clipboard and wearing a side arm, stepped up to the door as Mike rolled down the window.
Her survival vest held drugs, a knife, a radio, maps, matches, a First Aid kit, tools, and a side arm.
The name exploded out of Briant as if it were a dart shot from his side arm.
He managed to grumble on the way to the bathroom, then collected his side arm and car keys for the ride south.