petronel

American  

[pe-truh-nl] / ˈpɛ trə nl /

noun

1. a firearm of large caliber, used from the 15th to the 17th century, that fired with its butt resting against the chest.

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petronel British  

/ ˈpɛtrəˌnɛl /

noun

1. a firearm of large calibre used in the 16th and early 17th centuries, esp by cavalry soldiers

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Etymology

Origin of petronel

1570–80; < Middle French petrinal, dialectal variant of poitrinal, equivalent to poitrine chest (< Vulgar Latin *pectorīna, noun use of feminine of *pectorīnus of the breast; see pectoral, -ine ¹) + -al -al ¹

Example Sentences

Sirjana Kaur misspelled petronel — a portable firearm used in the 16th and 17th centuries.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 3, 2022

Schnapphahn, snap-cock, the English form of which, snaphaunce, seems also to have prevailed over petronel.

From The Romance of Words (4th ed.) by Weekley, Ernest

Determined to ascertain their movements before giving the alarm, he held his breath, and drawing a petronel, remained perfectly motionless.

From Guy Fawkes or The Gunpowder Treason by Ainsworth, William Harrison

It was, it struck me, from a petronel, or some small piece of ordnance such as merchantmen carried in those days.

From Hurricane Hurry by Kingston, William Henry Giles

A petronel bullet had glanced off my front plate, striking it at an angle, and had left a broad groove across it.

From Micah Clarke His Statement as made to his three grandchildren Joseph, Gervas and Reuben During the Hard Winter of 1734 by Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir