fowling piece

noun

1. a shotgun for shooting wildfowl.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fowling piece¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

“During the founding era, Americans typically owned muskets for militia service and fowling pieces to hunt birds and control vermin,” the brief said.

From New York Times

Guests will also be able to prime and fire replicas of two early American firearms: a “Brown Bess” British short land service pattern musket and a fowling piece, a precursor of the modern shotgun.

From Washington Times

He drilled with an old fowling piece his grandsire had given him to shoot ducks on the Concord River.

From Literature

Jones, a writer of admirable narrative energy, wastes no time in firing, as it were, the other barrel of the fowling piece: namely, the traditional incursion into the house from outside.

From Time

Besides, you must remember these are but fowling pieces.

From Project Gutenberg