Kalashnikov

/kəˈlɑʃ.ni.kɔf/ noun

Definition

A type of assault rifle, specifically the AK-47 and its variants, widely used by militaries and soldiers around the world.

Etymology

Named after Mikhail Kalashnikov, a Soviet engineer who designed the AK-47 in 1947. The word became genericized to refer to the rifle and its many variants across decades and continents.

Kelly Says

The AK-47 is so reliable and simple that it's become a symbol of conflict worldwide—soldiers say it works in mud and sand where other rifles jam, which is why it's found in the hands of armies from Russia to insurgents across Africa.

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