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

And what of other chile varieties such as guajillo, cascabel and morita?

From New York Times • Nov. 11, 2021

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

No doctoring was needed for chilaquiles, a sumptuously saucy mash-up of stewed chicken, cascabel salsa and the same sturdy tortilla chips used for the nachos.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 30, 2017

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

Levi made his rope fast to the cascabel, or but-end of the gun, and the word was passed for the men above to come down to the entrance.

From Brother Against Brother The War on the Border by Optic, Oliver