duck-shot

A hunter loads duck-shot into his shotgun before dawn.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Small shot for hunting waterfowl: "duck-shot" refers to a type of small lead or steel pellets used in shotgun shells specifically designed for hunting ducks and other waterfowl.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The hunter loaded his shotgun with duck-shot before heading to the marsh. (Small pellets for shooting ducks.)
  • Duck-shot is typically larger than birdshot but smaller than buckshot. (A specific size of ammunition for waterfowl.)

Advanced Usage

• "to use duck-shot": to employ this specific ammunition.

  • For a clean kill on ducks, hunters must use duck-shot of the appropriate size. (Using the correct pellets for the game.)

• "duck-shot pattern": the spread of pellets after firing.

  • The duck-shot pattern was too tight for close-range shooting. (How the pellets disperse.)

Variants and Related Words

• Shot (n): the general term for small pellets used in shotgun shells.

  • The shot from the shotgun scattered widely. (Pellets in general.)

• Duck (n): the bird itself.

  • The duck flew over the decoys. (The waterfowl.)

Synonyms

• Waterfowl shot: a more general term for pellets used for hunting birds that live near water.
• Fowling shot: an older term for shot used in bird hunting.

Related Idioms

• "Duck-shot" does not commonly appear in idioms. However, the phrase "like duck shot" may be used informally to describe something that scatters widely or is numerous.
  • The children ran out of the school like duck shot. (Scattering quickly in many directions.)

Note on Usage

• "Duck-shot" is a compound noun, written with or without a hyphen (duck shot, duck-shot). It is a technical term in hunting and firearms contexts. The word is rarely used outside of these specific discussions.