smoothbore

[ smooth-bawr, -bohr ]

adjective
  1. (of firearms) having a bore that is smooth; not rifled.

noun
  1. a smoothbore gun.

Origin of smoothbore

1
First recorded in 1790–1800; smooth + bore2

Words Nearby smoothbore

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use smoothbore in a sentence

  • Each model uses the same gun, a 125mm smoothbore cannon, allowing shared ammunition between types.

  • Again the smoothbore roared and a handful of balls scoured another thicket.

    A Virginia Scout | Hugh Pendexter
  • Two thirds of us will have to manage, until we can do better, with the smoothbore and even with the old flintlock.

    The Long Roll | Mary Johnston
  • And it was partly because so many of the Indians were shooting smoothbore muskets that were not accurate at a long distance.

    The Story of Geronimo | James Arthur Kjelgaard
  • Being a staunch believer in the Police, smoothbore had little faith in the Militia!

    The Great Gold Rush | W. H. P. (William Henry Pope) Jarvis
  • Almost within a minute after smoothbore had left him he was wavering in his opinions; now he was striding in pursuit of him.

    The Great Gold Rush | W. H. P. (William Henry Pope) Jarvis

British Dictionary definitions for smoothbore

smoothbore

/ (ˈsmuːðˌbɔː) /


noun
  1. (modifier) (of a firearm) having an unrifled bore: a smoothbore musket

  2. such a firearm

Derived forms of smoothbore

  • smoothbored, adjective

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