Bofors gun

noun

Bo·fors gun ˈbō-ˌfȯrz-

ˈbü-

: a double-barreled automatic antiaircraft gun

Word History

Etymology

Bofors, munition works in Sweden

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of Bofors gun was in 1936

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

B of H

Bofors gun

B of T

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Bofors gun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Bofors%20gun. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

verbose

Listen to the pronunciation of verbose

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Should that word have a hyphen?

Rack vs. Wrack

Are 'Funner' and 'Funnest' Real Words?

Popular in Wordplay

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

Popular

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World