Blunderbuss vs. Musketoon — What's the Difference?

The blunderbuss is a firearm with a short, large caliber barrel which is flared at the muzzle and frequently throughout the entire bore, and used with shot and other projectiles of relevant quantity or caliber. The blunderbuss is commonly considered to be an early predecessor of the modern shotgun, with similar military and defensive use.

The musketoon is a shorter-barrelled version of the musket and served in the roles of a shotgun or carbine. Musketoons could be of the same caliber as the issue musket or of a much larger caliber, 1.0–2.5 inches (25–63 mm).

A short musket of wide bore and flaring muzzle, formerly used to scatter shot at close range.

A firearm, similar to a musket but with a shorter barrel and a large bore.

A person regarded as clumsy and stupid.

(obsolete) One who is armed with such a musket.

An old style of muzzleloading firearm and early form of shotgun with a distinctive short, large caliber barrel that is flared at the muzzle, therefore able to fire scattered quantities of nails, stones, shot, etc. at short range.

A short musket.

(transitive) To shoot with a blunderbuss.

One who is armed with such a musket.

A short gun or firearm, with a large bore, capable of holding a number of balls, and intended to do execution without exact aim.

A stupid, blundering fellow.

A short musket of wide bore with a flared muzzle