blunderbuss

(-bus′)

noun

Historical a kind of musket with a short barrel, large bore, and a broad, flaring muzzle, accurate only at close range
a person who blunders

Origin: Du donderbus < donder, thunder + bus, gun (orig., box or tube): altered by assoc. with blunder

See blunderbuss in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A short musket of wide bore and flaring muzzle, formerly used to scatter shot at close range.
A person regarded as clumsy and stupid.

Origin:

Origin: Alteration of Dutch donderbus

Origin: : donder, thunder (from Middle Dutch doner; see (s)tenə- in Indo-European roots)

Origin: + bus, gun (from Middle Dutch busse, tube, from Latin buxis, box; see box¹)

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