fowling-piece
Definition
- Noun:
- A light shotgun for bird hunting: "fowling-piece" refers to a type of lightweight shotgun, typically used for shooting wildfowl or birds, as opposed to larger game or military purposes.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- He carried his fowling-piece into the marsh to hunt ducks at dawn. (A light shotgun used for bird hunting.)
- The antique fowling-piece was beautifully engraved with scenes of waterfowl. (A historical shotgun designed for fowl.)
Advanced Usage
Historical context: The term "fowling-piece" is largely archaic and was common in the 18th and 19th centuries, before modern shotguns became standardized.
- In colonial America, a fowling-piece was an essential tool for providing food. (A bird-hunting shotgun used in early settlements.)
Distinction from other firearms: A fowling-piece is specifically designed for small, fast-moving targets (birds) and often has a longer barrel and lighter weight compared to a musket or rifle.
- Unlike a musket used in war, the fowling-piece had a smoother bore for scattering shot. (The shotgun's design optimized for bird hunting.)
Variants and Related Words
Fowl (n): birds, especially those hunted for food or sport.
- The pond was home to many species of waterfowl. (Birds like ducks and geese.)
Fowling (n): the act of hunting wildfowl.
- Fowling was a popular pastime in the countryside. (Bird hunting.)
Piece (n): informal term for a firearm.
- He cleaned his piece after the hunt. (His gun.)
Synonyms
- Shotgun: a general term for a firearm that fires a spread of pellets.
- Bird gun: a colloquial term for a shotgun used for hunting birds.
- Scattergun: an informal synonym for a shotgun.
Related Idioms
"To go fowling": an old-fashioned phrase meaning to hunt birds.
- They set out at dawn to go fowling with their fowling-pieces. (To hunt wildfowl.)
"A piece for fowl": a descriptive phrase emphasizing the firearm's purpose.
- This is a fine piece for fowl, not for deer. (A gun suitable for bird hunting.)