breechblock

/ˈbritʃˌblɑk/
noun
  1. The part of a firearm that closes the rear end of the barrel and holds the cartridge in place.
    • The gunsmith carefully inspected the breechblock for wear.
    • The soldier cleaned the breechblock after firing the rifle.
    • A malfunctioning breechblock can cause the gun to jam.
Synonyms
What does "breechblock" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean