Definition

1. Noun:
   • A soft-nosed or hollow-point small-arms bullet designed to expand upon impact, causing a larger and more severe wound than a standard bullet.

Usage

• The term is used to describe a specific, controversial type of ammunition known for its destructive effect on soft tissue.
• It is primarily used in military, forensic, and historical contexts, often in discussions about the laws of war, as its use in international armed conflict is prohibited by the Hague Convention of 1899.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The forensic report confirmed the victim was killed by a dumdum bullet.
  • The use of dumdum bullets is banned under international law due to the excessive injury they cause.

Advanced Usage

• Historical Context: The name originates from the Dum Dum arsenal near Kolkata, India, where such bullets were first developed and produced for the British Army in the late 19th century.
• Technical Description: The bullet's expansion is typically achieved by removing the jacket from the tip of the bullet or by creating a hollow point, which causes it to flatten and fragment upon hitting a target.

Variants and Related Words

• Expanding bullet (n): A more technical and neutral term for the same type of ammunition.
• Hollow-point bullet (n): A common modern type of expanding bullet, often used in civilian law enforcement and hunting contexts.

Synonyms

• Soft-point bullet: A bullet with a soft lead tip designed to expand.
• Mushroom bullet: Informal term referring to the mushroom-like shape the bullet takes upon expansion.

Related Phrases

• Prohibited ammunition: A legal and military term often encompassing dumdum bullets.
• Cause a gaping wound: A phrase frequently used to describe the terminal ballistic effect of such a bullet.

Noun

1. a soft-nosed small-arms bullet that expands when it hits a target and causes a gaping wound