birdshot

English

Etymology

From bird +‎ shot.

Noun

birdshot (countable and uncountable, plural birdshots)

1. A small lead or steel shot, or ammunition, used in shotgun shells.
   • 2007 May 2, The Associated Press, “Florida Six Wounded in Shootings”, in New York Times‎^[1]:

     In the first shooting, four of the teenagers were sitting on a porch and were peppered with birdshot from a shotgun fired from a passing car around 2:30 p.m., Sheriff John Rutherford said.

2. A rifle or pistol cartridge containing small shot instead of a single larger projectile.