n. 1. A short musket of wide bore and flaring muzzle, formerly used to scatter shot at close range. 2. A person regarded as clumsy and stupid. [Alteration of Dutch donderbus : donder, thunder (from Middle Dutch doner; see (s)tenə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots) + bus, gun (from Middle Dutch busse, tube, from Latin buxis, box; see BOX1).] |
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