Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BLUNDERBUSH, n. Sc. form of Eng. blunderbuss, a short heavy flintlock gun with a wide bore at the muzzle. This form was used in Eng. in 17th cent. but examples in N.E.D. indicate that only blunderbuss was used from 1774 onwards. [′blʌndərbʌʃ Sc.; ′blʌnərbʌʃ Kcb.]Sc. 1886 R.L. Stevenson Kidnapped xxix.; Abd.22 1935:
I have a blunderbush.Kcb. 1894 S. R. Crockett Raiders xviii.:
Ye micht possibly hae juiked the blunderbush and gotten time to pit in a word to satisfy your kittle honour. attrib.Bnff. 1716 in W. Cramond Annals Banff (1891) I. 118:
An Dannish aix, Blunderbush gun, a gun and a partisan.
