Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

blunderbuss

/ˈblʌn.dɚˌbʌs/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 2.10 in modern English

Syllables: blun-der-buss
IPA: /ˈblʌn.dɚˌbʌs/

16

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An old style of muzzleloading firearm and early form of shotgun with a distinctive short, large caliber barrel that is flared at the muzzle, therefore able to fire scattered quantities of nails, stones, shot, etc. at short range.

verb

To shoot with a blunderbuss.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"We fired the blunderbuss several times by way of salute, and soon after landed at the bank near the village of the Mahahas, or Shoe Indians, and were received by a crowd of people, who came to welcome our return."
"One of the most picturesque of the old flintlock guns is the blunderbuss, which was often carried by coach guards for protection against highwaymen."
"The blunderbuss never gained great favor in the American colonies or early United States."

Etymology

From Dutch donderbus (“blunderbuss”, literally “thunder gun”), which was altered under the influence of blunder.

Origin

Source language: Dutch

Word Breakdown

Root: donderbus

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈblʌn.dɚˌbʌs/
British English: /ˈblʌn.dəˌbʌs/

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

blunderbusses (plural) blunderbusses (present, singular) blunderbussing (participle, present) blunderbussed (participle, past) blunderbussed (past)

Questions

How do you pronounce blunderbuss?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈblʌn.dɚˌbʌs/.
What does blunderbuss mean?: An old style of muzzleloading firearm and early form of shotgun with a distinctive short, large caliber barrel that is flared at the muzzle, therefore able to fire scattered quantities of nails, stones, shot, etc. at short range.
Where does blunderbuss come from?: It is traced to Dutch.

How to pronounce blunderbuss

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