Standard Lemma guide

thunderstick

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A gun or cannon, especially a rifle, as seen from the imagined perspective of an uncivilized person or an animal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The man pointed his thunderstick at the buffalo, and with a great noise and fire, the buffalo fell down dead.
  • We sneaked into the soldiers' camp, and stole five thundersticks.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fire-stick

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A narrow plastic balloon that is used as a promotional noise maker by hitting one against another.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From thunder + stick. Originally used by or ascribed to members of non-European cultures or anthropomorphized animals describing firearms.