Definition

Noun: 1. A small spherical projectile: A tiny metal ball, typically made of steel, designed to be fired from an air rifle or BB gun. The term "BB" originally stood for "ball bearing" or "bullet ball."

Usage

• The primary use of a bb shot is as ammunition for low-powered air guns used in target shooting, plinking, or informal practice.
• It is important to handle bb shot with care and always follow proper safety procedures, as it can cause injury.

Examples

• He loaded a handful of bb shot into the magazine of his air rifle.
• The tin of bb shot was nearly empty after an afternoon of target practice.
• Safety goggles must be worn because a ricocheting bb shot can be dangerous.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used metonymically to refer to the act or sound of being hit by such a projectile.
  • We could hear the bb shot pinging off the metal target.

Variants and Related Words

• BB (noun): A common abbreviated form for "bb shot."
  • He bought a new container of BBs.
• Pellet (noun): A more general term for a small, solid projectile. While often used interchangeably with "bb shot," "pellet" can also refer to a differently shaped projectile (like a diabolo pellet) used in air guns.
• Airgun ammunition (noun phrase): The broader category to which bb shot belongs.

Synonyms

• Airgun pellet
• Steel ball
• Ball bearing (in the original, non-industrial context)

Notes on Meaning

• BB shot specifically refers to the spherical projectile. It is distinct from a "pellet," which is often cylindro-conoidal in shape for better aerodynamics.
• The "BB gun" is named for firing bb shot. Do not confuse this with other gauges of shotgun shot, like "birdshot."

Noun

1. a small pellet fired from an air rifle or BB gun