Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A small or young falcon.
- noun Any of several small falcons, especially any of several species of the genus Microhierax native to tropical Asia.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A little falcon; specifically, in ornithology, a finch-falcon of the Oriental genus Ierax, Hierax, or Microhierax, which contains tiny falcons about six inches long, such as M. cœrulescens.
- noun A shrike of the genus Falcunculus. Also
falconelle . - noun A kind of cannon in use in the sixteenth century.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun One of the smaller cannon used in the 15th century and later.
- noun One of several very small Asiatic falcons of the genus Microhierax.
- noun One of a group of Australian birds of the genus Falcunculus, resembling shrikes and titmice.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A small or young
falcon - noun Any of various small, tropical Asian falcons of the genus
Microhierax found inSoutheast Asia . - noun military, historical A light
cannon developed in the late 15th century and decorated with an image of afalcon .
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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A small piece, such as in that day was employed for the defence of castles, called a falconet, was elevated above the canoes, so that the shot, passing over the heads of their inmates, might take effect upon the woods along the shore.
The Wigwam and the Cabin. By the Author of "The Yemassee," "Guy Rivers," &c. Second Series 1845
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Practised archer! — marry, holy sir, I would he would practise something else — cross-bow and long-bow, hand-gun and hack-but, falconet and saker, he can shoot with them all.
The Monastery 2008
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The apparition of Catherine Seyton, which the page had let loose in the first moment of astonishment, vanished in darkness; but the plash of oars was heard, and, in a second or two, five or six harquebuses and a falconet were fired from the battlements of the castle successively, as if levelled at some object on the water.
The Abbot 2008
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How _vivo_ affected aiming is easily seen: with its bore level, a 4-pounder falconet ranged 250 paces.
Artillery Through the Ages A Short Illustrated History of Cannon, Emphasizing Types Used in America Albert Manucy
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As the fierce falcon hawk gave its name to the falcon and falconet, so the saker was named for the saker hawk; rabinet, meaning "rooster," was therefore a suitable name for the falcon's small-bore cousin.
Artillery Through the Ages A Short Illustrated History of Cannon, Emphasizing Types Used in America Albert Manucy
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I chose a swivel and a falconet, which were both a little damaged in the muzzle, and filled them with the projectiles I have mentioned.
The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini Cellini, Benvenuto, 1500-1571 1910
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For its later application to a firearm cf. falconet.
The Romance of Names Ernest Weekley 1909
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I chose a swivel and a falconet, which were both a little damaged in the muzzle, and filled them with the projectiles I have mentioned.
XXXVIII 1909
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He was hard at work as we approached in trying the lock of a falconet; but perceiving us, he came forward and saluted us with much kindliness.
Micah Clarke His Statement as made to his three grandchildren Joseph, Gervas and Reuben During the Hard Winter of 1734 Arthur Conan Doyle 1894
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He was always a good shot with a falconet or a mortar-piece.
Micah Clarke His Statement as made to his three grandchildren Joseph, Gervas and Reuben During the Hard Winter of 1734 Arthur Conan Doyle 1894
chained_bear commented on the word falconet
"A short cannon, about six feet long: this sort of ordnance was formerly used at sea."
—Falconer's New Universal Dictionary of the Marine, 1816
See also falcon.
October 10, 2008