ARQUEBUSS, or Harquebus, a large hand-gun,something bigger than our musket; and called by some a caliver. See HARQUEBUS.
Arquebus a Croc, is a sort of small fort-arm, which carries a ball of about three half ounces; now only used in old Castile, and some garrisons of the French.
The word is derived from the Italian Arcobusio, or Arcabuso, formed of arco, a bow, and buso, a hole; because of the touch-hole of an arquebus, which succeeds to the use of the bow among the ancients.
ARQUEBUSS
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- Written by: Ephraïm Chambers
- Category: Unclassified