cascabel

American  

[kas-kuh-bel] / ˈkæs kəˌbɛl /

noun

1. a knoblike projection at the rear of the breech of a muzzleloading cannon.

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cascabel British  

/ ˈkæskəˌbɛl /

noun

1. a knoblike protrusion on the rear part of the breech of an obsolete muzzle-loading cannon

2. the rear part itself

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Etymology

Origin of cascabel

1630–40; < Spanish: little round bell, rattle < Old Provençal cascavel, akin to Medieval Latin *cascabellus, equivalent to Vulgar Latin *cascab ( us ) (variant of Latin caccabus pot) + Latin -ellus diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

He knew the rear end of old cannons had a large knob called the cascabel, used to handle the gun.

From Washington Post • Jun. 24, 2019

One side of the fish is red, stained with a fiery paste of cascabel, ancho and guajillo chiles.

From New York Times • Apr. 9, 2019

Fillings include zingy achiote pork sweetened with a dash of pineapple, and butter-tender brisket steeped in chilies and smoke, dabbed with chunky cascabel chili salsa for extra oomph.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 7, 2013

Ottolenghi’s butter beans in smoked cascabel oil, for example, are amazingly simple to make, fill up a plate, and last for weeks.

From Slate

The machine is placed on the cascabel, the boring shaft inserted in the hollow leading bar, and its movable centre placed on the mark.

From Ordnance Instructions for the United States Navy. 1866. Fourth edition. by United States. Navy Dept. Bureau of Ordnance