From what was the shotgun originally developed?

The shotgun was originally developed from the blunderbuss, which is a firearm that dates back to the 17th century. The blunderbuss features a flared muzzle and was designed to fire a wide spread of projectiles, making it effective at close range. This characteristic of spreading projectiles is crucial to the functionality of modern shotguns, which are designed to shoot a shot shell containing multiple small pellets, or "shot." The design principles and intended applications of the blunderbuss strongly influenced the evolution of shotguns, as both firearms prioritize effectiveness in close-quarters scenarios. Thus, the connection between the blunderbuss and the shotgun is significant, illustrating how the latter developed from early designs to fulfill similar roles in hunting and defense.