dumdum

¹

[duhm-duhm]

noun

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

dumdum

²

[duhm-duhm]

noun

1. dum-dum.

dumdum

/ ˈdʌmˌdʌm /

noun

1. Also called: dumdum bullet. a soft-nosed or hollow-nosed small-arms bullet that expands on impact and inflicts extensive laceration

Word History and Origins

Origin of dumdum¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of dumdum¹

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

Example Sentences

He often described himself as “a professional dumdum” — a dogged interlocutor whose questions led to some extraordinary structures and, at least once, to no structure at all.

Read more on New York Times

I don’t want to watch dumdums fall down.

Read more on New York Times

Here comes the dumdum who had no idea what we were saying.

Read more on Time

Maybe you shouldn't pose nude if you can't handle the public seeing it. #dumdum.

Read more on The Verge

He’d heard the word so often—mostly from Maria—he’d thought it was only a swear word, like dumdum or cootie face.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• clodpoll