bundook

English

Etymology

From Hindi बन्दूक़ (bandūq, “gun”), from Arabic بُنْدُقِيَّة (bunduqiyya, “gun”), from بُنْدُق (bunduq, “hazelnut, pebble, bullet”) + ية (ya, “-y”), from Middle Persian 𐭐𐭍𐭃𐭊 (pondik, “hazelnut”), from Ancient Greek [κάρυον] Ποντικόν (Pontikón, “Pontic nut”), q.v. Doublet of Pontic and bonduc.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbʌnduːk/

Noun

bundook (plural bundooks)

1. (slang, UK) A service-issue rifle.

Usage notes

A term widely adopted by British regular soldiers serving in India or having contact with Indian troops.