Definition

Noun: A fowling piece is a type of long gun, specifically a light shotgun, historically designed and used for hunting wildfowl (birds such as ducks, geese, and other game birds).

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • The hunter cleaned his antique fowling piece before the waterfowl season.
  • In the 18th century, a fowling piece was an essential tool for market hunters.

Advanced Usage

• The term is primarily historical or specialized. In modern contexts, the more general terms "shotgun" or "bird gun" are typically used.
• It often implies a firearm with a longer barrel and a smooth bore (not rifled), optimized for firing a spread of small shot at flying birds.

Variants and Related Words

• Fowling (n): The practice or sport of hunting wildfowl.
  • He was an expert in the art of fowling.
• Shotgun (n): A modern, broader term for a firearm that fires shells containing shot.
• Bird gun (n): A colloquial term for a shotgun used for bird hunting.

Synonyms

• Birding gun
• Wildfowling gun

Notes on Meaning

• The "piece" in "fowling piece" is an archaic term for a firearm. The compound word specifically denotes its purpose ().
• It is not used for rifles designed for large game or for modern tactical shotguns. Its use is almost exclusively associated with historical hunting practices.

Noun

1. a light shotgun used for fowling