noun

blunderbuss

BLUN-duh-bus

Quiz me More like this

Blunderbuss (noun) means a blunderbuss is an old muzzle-loading firearm with a short, wide barrel that flares outward at the muzzle, used to fire a scatter of shot at close range. Example: “The museum displayed an eighteenth-century blunderbuss beside other antique weapons.”

noun

A blunderbuss is an old muzzle-loading firearm with a short, wide barrel that flares outward at the muzzle, used to fire a scatter of shot at close range.

"The museum displayed an eighteenth-century blunderbuss beside other antique weapons."

"A blunderbuss could fire nails or stones as well as shot, making it a crude but effective close-range weapon."

"The pirate in the film carried a battered old blunderbuss tucked into his belt."

How to use blunderbuss

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA blunderbuss is an old-fashioned gun with a wide, flared barrel built to fire a spread of shot at close range.

When to use it

This word mostly appears in historical writing or fiction describing old weapons.

Memory tip

Picture the flared, trumpet-like end of the barrel, that shape is the clue to how a blunderbuss worked.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

fire a blunderbuss antique blunderbuss load a blunderbuss carry a blunderbuss

Vocabulary Flow

Build your vocabulary from words like blunderbuss.

Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.

Start vocabulary practice

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “blunderbuss” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The museum displayed an eighteenth-century _____ beside other antique weapons.

Etymology

Blunderbuss comes from the Dutch word donderbus, literally meaning thunder gun. Its spelling changed in English under the influence of the unrelated word blunder.

Origin: Dutch

Frequently asked questions

What is a blunderbuss?

It is an old type of muzzle-loading firearm with a short barrel that flares out at the end, designed to fire a spread of shot, nails or stones at short range.

Why is it called a blunderbuss?

The name comes from the Dutch donderbus, meaning thunder gun, though its English spelling was reshaped by the word blunder.

Is a blunderbuss the same as a modern shotgun?

It is an early ancestor of the shotgun, sharing the idea of firing scattered shot, but it is a much older, muzzle-loaded design.

What is the meaning of blunderbuss?

"blunderbuss" (noun) means a blunderbuss is an old muzzle-loading firearm with a short, wide barrel that flares outward at the muzzle, used to fire a scatter of shot at close range.