<p>挺，表数量，用于条状物。</p>

<p>As a measure word, 挺 refers to something that is long.</p>

<p>In《太平御览》卷八三五，it says 壶中大钱一千，以通九泉之路，<strong>蜡烛一挺</strong>，以照七尺之尸。</p>

<p>In modern Chinese, 一挺蜡烛 is no longer commonly used.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-19T21:51:36.110Z
Ah, so I guessed wrong: instead of somebody deciding to use it as a new measure word for machine guns, it is an old measure word that no longer has any other uses. That makes a lot of sense, thank you!
Kusma
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-20T01:21:13.503Z
@Kusma I have never thought about this deeply before you asked, thank you too!
zyy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-19T20:18:00.050Z
2018-08-20T00:52:24.067Z
2018-08-20T00:52:24.067Z
zyy
<p>I recently noticed that the word 挺 (which I know mainly as an intensifier) also is the measure word for 機槍, machine guns. Now machine guns are a fairly recent invention, so I am wondering: Is it known who chose this measure word for them and why? </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-19T22:59:34.673Z
bkrs：挺 I v.
1) stick/bulge out
2) endure
你能挺多久？ How long can you endure?
3) slang deal with; handle
II b.f.
1) erect; firm (笔挺)
2) distinguished; standing out (英挺)
III adv.
very; rather; quite
IV m.
for machine guns (frequency rank) #778
user6065
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-23T10:57:53.923Z
@user6065  please, what is bkrs ?
faure
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-23T11:43:40.293Z
suggestion: search web using "bkrs"
user6065
<measure-word>
Why is 挺 used as measure word for machine guns?
# Why is 挺 used as measure word for machine guns?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-08-19)

I recently noticed that the word 挺 (which I know mainly as an intensifier) also is the measure word for 機槍, machine guns. Now machine guns are a fairly recent invention, so I am wondering: Is it known who chose this measure word for them and why?

**Tags:** measure-word
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: bkrs：挺 I v. 1) stick/bulge out 2) endure 你能挺多久？ How long can you endure? 3) slang deal with; handle II b.f. 1) erect; firm (笔挺) 2) distinguished; standing out (英挺) III adv. very; rather; quite IV m. for machine guns (frequency rank) #778  
> **username_2**: @user6065  please, what is bkrs ?  
> **username_1**: suggestion: search web using "bkrs"  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-08-19. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

挺，表数量，用于条状物。

As a measure word, 挺 refers to something that is long.

In《太平御览》卷八三五，it says 壶中大钱一千，以通九泉之路，**蜡烛一挺**，以照七尺之尸。

In modern Chinese, 一挺蜡烛 is no longer commonly used.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Ah, so I guessed wrong: instead of somebody deciding to use it as a new measure word for machine guns, it is an old measure word that no longer has any other uses. That makes a lot of sense, thank you!  
> **username_3**: @Kusma I have never thought about this deeply before you asked, thank you too!  

---

