Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • See harquebus, harquebusier.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A sort of hand gun or firearm a contrivance answering to a trigger, by which the burning match was applied. The musket was a later invention.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun an obsolete matchlock firearm

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an obsolete firearm with a long barrel

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From 15th century Dutch haakbus, from haak ("hook") + bus ("box, tube").

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Examples

  • He fought the Mohawk and Onondaga with wooden armor and an early firearm called the arquebus

    A Forgotten Explorateur 2008

  • Calling it an "arquebus" would be stretching the point.

    The Shadow Of The Lion Lackey, Mercedes 2002

  • However, the arquebus had a faster rate of fire than the most powerful crossbow, had a shorter learning curve than a longbow, and was more powerful than either.

    Firearms for Pathfinder « Geek Related 2009

  • Bottom line: Crossbow has the best range, longbow has the best rate of fire and arquebus has the best damage dice coupled with ease of use.

    Firearms for Pathfinder « Geek Related 2009

  • In terms of accuracy, the arquebus was unable to match the accuracy of a bow in the hands of a highly-skilled archer.

    Firearms for Pathfinder « Geek Related 2009

  • If you are not hunting with a match-lock arquebus, while wearing hose and a whale bone corset, you're not a "traditionalist."

    Electrifying Muzzleloaders: CVA's New Electronic Ignition System 2007

  • Even before they got within arquebus shot the Venetian line seemed to waver under the accurate fire of the Spanish guns.

    Archive 2008-01-01 Vexillia Limited 2008

  • Meantime, the Spanish Colunellas, in which the Spanish put most of their faith, approached the Venetian line of arquebus and cannon defending the hill and central wood.

    Archive 2008-01-01 Vexillia Limited 2008

  • Four front row stands of arquebus backed by two stands of sword and buckler men and two stands of pike the latter placed centrally.

    Archive 2008-01-01 Vexillia Limited 2008

  • C: 2 Colunella, 1 unit Italian arquebus (SK), 1 unit mounted crossbows (SK).

    Archive 2008-01-01 Vexillia Limited 2008

Comments

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  • See also harquebuss; compare harquebus: “an old piece of fire-arm resembling a musket, and supported by a rest.�? (citation in Historical Military Terms list description)

    October 10, 2008