dumdum

[ duhm-duhm ]

/ ˈdʌmˌdʌm /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR dumdum ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a hollow-nosed or soft-nosed bullet that expands on impact, inflicting a severe wound.

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Also called dumdum bullet .

Origin of dumdum

First recorded in 1895–1900; named after Dum-Dum, town in India where the bullets were made

Words nearby dumdum

dumb sheave, dumbshit, dumb show, dumbstruck, dumbwaiter, dumdum, dumela, Dumézil, Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, Dumfriesshire

Definition for dumdum (2 of 3)

dumdum²

[ duhm-duhm ]

/ ˈdʌmˌdʌm /

noun, adjective

dum-dum.

Definition for dumdum (3 of 3)

dum-dum

or dumb-dumb

[ duhm-duhm ]

/ ˈdʌmˌdʌm /

Slang.

noun

a silly, stupid person.

adjective

typical of a dum-dum: another dum-dum idea.

Origin of dum-dum

apparently reduplication and respelling of dumb

Example sentences from the Web for dumdum

In all the wounds considered, on the basis of the aspect of the wound of entrance, dumdum bullets were not used.
Warren Commission (2 of 26): Hearings Vol. II (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
And what characteristics of dumdum bullets were absent, in your opinion—in your evaluation of these wounds?
Warren Commission (2 of 26): Hearings Vol. II (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
Another large poster appeared in all parts of the town stating that the British had been convicted of using Dumdum bullets.
Wounded and a Prisoner of War|Malcolm V. (Malcolm Vivian) Hay
March 8—British charge that German dumdum bullets were found after a recent battle in Egypt.
New York Times Current History; The European War, Vol 2, No. 2, May, 1915|Various

Nov. 28—Regimental dispatch dog mentioned in orders as having fallen in duty; Germans charge use of dumdum bullets by the French.
The New York Times Current History: the European War, February, 1915|Various

British Dictionary definitions for dumdum

dumdum

/ (ˈdʌmˌdʌm) /

noun

a soft-nosed or hollow-nosed small-arms bullet that expands on impact and inflicts extensive lacerationAlso called: dumdum bullet

Word Origin for dumdum

C19: named after Dum-Dum, town near Kolkata (Calcutta) where these bullets were made

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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dumdum

noun

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Origin of dumdum

Words nearby dumdum