Fusil doesn't mean rifle, it typically means a smoothbore firearm/gun.
Carabine means rifle.
They use calibre in place of gauge in French, calibre being a blanket term.
Its because of how french construct their words. Gun [of the type]
Shotgun: fusil de chasse (gun of hunting)
Pump shotgun: fusil de pompe. (gun of pump)
Assault rifle: fusil d'assaut (gun of assault)
all shortened to simply fusil, and you're expected to understand the context.
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u/BigoteMexicano Aug 13 '26
So does French not have a specific word for shotgun or gauge? Long guns are all fusil (rifle) and gauge is just calibre?