arquebus

American

[ahr-kwuh-buhs] / ˈɑr kwə bəs /

Also harquebus,

noun

any of several small-caliber long guns operated by a matchlock or wheel-lock mechanism, dating from about 1400.

arquebus British

/ ˈɑːkwɪbəs /

noun

Also called: hackbut. hagbut. a portable long-barrelled gun dating from the 15th century: fired by a wheel-lock or matchlock

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

arquebuses

plural

Etymology

Origin of arquebus

First recorded in 1525–35; from Middle French harquebusche (with intrusive -r- ), from Middle Dutch hākebusse, equivalent to hāke “hook“ + busse “gun” (literally, “box”), from Late Latin buxis for Latin buxus “box tree, boxwood; flute made from boxwood”; see box ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Succinct History of the Development of Small Arms, from the Arquebus to Our Rifle The arquebus in use before the invention of powder gave the general design to fire arms.

From Battle Studies by Ardant du Picq, Charles Jean Jacques Joseph

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023