Boomstick

What kind of firearm is a boomstick?

Shotgun

Boomstick is a slang term for a powerful firearm, typically a shotgun, that fans of the first-person shooter (FPS) game Doom popularized in the 1990s. In Doom, the shotgun was a powerful and iconic weapon that delivered significant damage at close range, making it a favorite among gamers. Over time, the term "boomstick" expanded beyond Doom and became a general reference to any shotgun in FPS games, particularly those with intense, fast-paced combat.

The "boomstick" term also gained cultural traction through its use in pop culture, notably in the Evil Dead series, where the protagonist Ash Williams refers to his shotgun as his "boomstick." On the gaming front, as FPS games like Quake, Half-Life, and Duke Nukem followed in Doom's footsteps, the term continued to resonate within gaming communities.

Today, players across various platforms use "boomstick" to describe shotguns, especially in games where the weapon has significant power and impact. You will likely see the term used informally in gaming discussions, streams, and online forums.

Example

I just picked up the boomstick in Doom Eternal—it's so satisfying to use!
Oh, definitely! There’s nothing like blowing away enemies with that shotgun. It’s a classic

Ash introducing people to his boomstick

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Updated March 5, 2025

Boomstick definition by Slang.net - The Slang Dictionary

This page explains what the slang term "Boomstick" means. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been manually compiled and written by the Slang.net team.

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