blunderbuss

[ bluhn-der-buhs ]

noun

1. a short musket of wide bore with expanded muzzle to scatter shot, bullets, or slugs at close range.
2. an insensitive, blundering person.

blunderbuss

/ ˈblʌndəˌbʌs /

noun

1. an obsolete short musket with large bore and flared muzzle, used to scatter shot at short range
2. informal.
   a clumsy unsubtle person

Word History and Origins

Origin of blunderbuss¹

1645–55; < Dutch donderbus (equivalent to donder thunder + bus gun, box ¹ ) with donder replaced by blunder. See harquebus

Word History and Origins

Origin of blunderbuss¹

C17: changed (through the influence of blunder ) from Dutch donderbus ; from donder thunder + obsolete bus gun

Example Sentences

I keep a good blunderbuss loaded over the door, an' thieves would na' find it an easy job to get in through these iron bars.

From Project Gutenberg

"It's a pity to keep a useful weapon only for show," returned Dolly, eyeing the old blunderbuss with looks of regret.

From Project Gutenberg

And with the first flash of light the foremost guard ran halfway up the steep embankment and leveled his blunderbuss.

From Project Gutenberg

So I bestowed a friendly nod on the man with the blunderbuss, and inquired, with a smile, whether I had disturbed his nap.

From Project Gutenberg

For he had turned his horse loose, and the blunderbuss, which he had been holding horizontally, was now dropped earthward.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• blunderer
• bumbler
• klutz
• lummox