When is a clip a magazine?

[Fjold]

I guess it's when Merriam-Webster says that it is.


Main Entry: clip
Function: noun
Date: 15th century
1 : any of various devices that grip, clasp, or hook
2 : a device to hold cartridges for charging the magazines of some rifles; also : a magazine from which ammunition is fed into the chamber of a firearm
3 : a piece of jewelry held in position by a clip

[fuegoslow]

Never! Stripper Clips allow for easy top loading. Magazines are a spring loaded device that feeds rounds into the weapon.

[fuegoslow]

Merriam-Webster is participating in FUD. Just kidding!

[Greg-Dawg]

Clips are for hair, and they don't have springs.

[javabum]

Clips are for keeping the potato chip bag closed.

[El Gato]

as regards firearms... clips are inserted into magazines except when they are "charging" clips used to charge the magazine...I refer to the reader to that great philosopher R. Lee Ermey... and the mail call episode where he explains it... unfortunately, I don't have a youtube reference much to my chagrin...

[bohoki]

clips are magazines as autoloading rifles are assault rifles

words have no meaning when emotions are involved

[M47_Dragon]

Merriam-Webster will change and/or add definitions based on usage by the general public. In this case, so many people have used the word 'clip' inappropriately, it has made its way into the dictionary as a synonym for 'magazine.'

[POLICESTATE]

Clips are NOT magazines. Stripper clips charge magazines. En bloc clips (Garand) are inserted INTO the magazine.

Magazines are either part of the weapon, like most bolt action rifles, lever actions, pump actions etc... or they are Box Magazines, the self-contained magazine (commonly called clips in pop culture) with are detachable, include a follower and spring or similar mechanism to drive the follower.