bastard culverin

American  

noun

Military.

1. a 16th-century cannon, smaller than a culverin, firing a shot of between 5 and 8 pounds (11 and 17.6 kilograms).

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Etymology

Origin of bastard culverin

First recorded in 1540–50

Example Sentences

Of an unusual make or proportion; as, a bastard musket; a bastard culverin.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah

Spanish double-fortified culverins were charged with the full weight of the ball in powder; four-fifths that amount went into the legitimate, and only two-thirds for the bastard culverin.

From Artillery Through the Ages A Short Illustrated History of Cannon, Emphasizing Types Used in America by Manucy, Albert