smoothbore

adj, noun — 2 senses

smoothbore

adj

Etymology From smooth + bore.

1

Engineering, Firearms, Government, Military, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Politics, Tools, War, Weaponry Having a bore with a smooth interior, i.e. one that has not been rifled.

From what distance the smoothbore musket was able to fell a human target has been the source of debate for a long time.2008, Earl J. Hess, The Rifle Musket in Civil War Combat: Reality and Myth, University Press of Kansas, page 13:

smoothbore

noun

Etymology From smooth + bore.

1

Engineering, Firearms, Government, Military, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Politics, Tools, War, Weaponry A cannon, gun or other firearm that has an unrifled barrel.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.