(尤指军人、警察随身携带的)手枪/佩枪;通常作为主要武器之外的备用武器。(也可泛指挂在身侧携带的武器,但最常见指手枪。)
/ˈsaɪdɑːrm/
He carried a sidearm on his belt.
他把佩枪别在腰带上。
Although the team’s primary weapons were locked away, each officer was still issued a sidearm for emergencies.
尽管小队的主要武器被锁起来了,每位警员仍配发了一支佩枪以备紧急情况。
由 side(侧边)+ arm(武器/装备)构成,字面意思是“带在身侧的武器”。该词在近代英语(尤其是美式军事与执法语境)中常用来专指随身携带的手枪,与步枪等“主武器”相对。