blunderbuss
Wide-mouthed firearm
A blunderbuss is an old-fashioned firearm with a short barrel and flared muzzle, designed to scatter shot at close range.
The wide mouth made loading easier and spread projectiles in a broad pattern—effective for defense but wildly inaccurate.
Figuratively, a blunderbuss approach is crude and indiscriminate: His blunderbuss management style alienated half the staff.
Muzzle-loaded infantry firearm
- flintlockFlint-sparked firearm mechanism
- muzzleloaderGun loaded through barrel
- arquebusEarly portable firearm
- matchlockCord-ignited gun mechanism
smoothbore · shotgun · carbine · musketoon · ramrod · wadding · bore · barrel
Firearm firing spread pellets
- sprayDispersed liquid droplets
- spreadTo distribute widely
- buckshotCoarse shotgun pellets
- pelletsSmall compressed spheres
dispersion · indiscriminate · haphazard · close-range · unfocused · sweeping · broadside · scatter
Caribbean colonial-era pirate
- corsairPirate or pirate ship
- swashbucklerDaring, flamboyant swordsman
- privateerAuthorized civilian warship
- cutlassCurved slashing naval blade
galleon · Blackbeard · plunder · boarding · deck · shipboard · flintlock · treasure
Loud deep sound
- blastSudden forceful burst
- thunderousExtremely loud, resounding
- roarLoud, deep animal cry
- reportFormal written findings
deafening · echo · resounding · crack · bang · discharge · explosive · bellowing
Mishandling through incompetence
- ineptLacking skill or competence
- ham-fistedLacking dexterity or subtlety
- heavy-handedClumsy and oppressive
- crudeUnpolished, raw state
unwieldy · graceless · lumbering · oafish · cumbersome
Preserved ancient object
- heirloomInherited family treasure
- collectibleObject worth amassing
- artifactHuman-made historical object
- curioOdd collectible item
vintage · historical · museum · antiquarian · restoration · preservation · collection · display
musket
Muzzle-loaded infantry firearm
- flintlockFlint-sparked firearm mechanism
- muzzleloaderGun loaded through barrel
- arquebusEarly portable firearm
matchlock · smoothbore · shotgun · carbine · musketoon · ramrod · wadding · bore · barrel · stock
scattergun
Firearm firing spread pellets
pellets · dispersion · indiscriminate · haphazard · close-range · unfocused · sweeping · broadside · scatter · random
buccaneer
Caribbean colonial-era pirate
- corsairPirate or pirate ship
- swashbucklerDaring, flamboyant swordsman
- privateerAuthorized civilian warship
cutlass · galleon · Blackbeard · plunder · boarding · deck · shipboard · flintlock · treasure · Jolly Roger
boom
Loud deep sound
- blastSudden forceful burst
- thunderousExtremely loud, resounding
- roarLoud, deep animal cry
report · deafening · echo · resounding · crack · bang · discharge · explosive · bellowing · thunderclap
bungling
Mishandling through incompetence
- ineptLacking skill or competence
- ham-fistedLacking dexterity or subtlety
- heavy-handedClumsy and oppressive
crude · unwieldy · graceless · lumbering · oafish · cumbersome
relic
Preserved ancient object
- heirloomInherited family treasure
- collectibleObject worth amassing
- artifactHuman-made historical object
curio · vintage · historical · museum · antiquarian · restoration · preservation · collection · display · patina
- old gunsBrown Bess, flintlock, matchlock, arquebus, fusil
- firearmsrifle, pistol, handgun, shotgun, revolver
- weaponsknife, gun, sword, swords, rifle
- armsguns, rifles, pistols, swords, firearms
- historical weaponsmusket, muskets, flintlock, flintlocks, pistols
- ranged weaponsbow and arrow, crossbow, longbow, rifle, pistol
blunderbussrifle
Long-barreled shoulder weapon
sniper rifle · precision rifle · long rifle · musket · carbine