Small pellets of lead or steel used in shotgun ammunition for hunting birds; ammunition specifically designed for bird hunting.
Compound of 'bird' (Old English 'brid') and 'shot' (Old English 'scot' meaning 'shot' or 'discharge'). Emerged as hunting terminology in the development of firearms and shotguns.
Birdshot carries environmental consequences—spent lead shot accumulates in wetlands and poisons waterfowl through ingestion, which is why many conservation areas now mandate non-toxic steel shot instead.
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