Where does “rimfire” come from?

rimfire (English) comes from English fire, from Middle English fier, from Old English fȳr, from Old English feor, from Proto-Germanic ferrai, from Proto-Indo-European per-nóy, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.

rimfire (English): A type of firearm cartridge where the primer is...

Definitions

  1. A type of firearm cartridge where the primer is...

Ancestry of “rimfire”, step by step

rimfire traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English fire

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfireA chemical reaction involving the bonding of...
2Middle EnglishfierAlternative form of figer
3Old Englishfȳrfire
4Old EnglishfeorAlternative form of feorr; far
5Proto-Germanicferraifar, distant
6Proto-Indo-Europeanper-nóy
7Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

via English rim

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishrimAn edge around something, especially when...
2Middle Englishrim
3Latinrimacrack, fissure
4Proto-Indo-EuropeanreyH-meh₂
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanreyH-to tear, cut
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós