harquebus

1 of 2

noun (1)

har·​que·​bus ˈhär-kwi-(ˌ)bəs 

-kə-bəs

variants or arquebus

ˈär-kwi-(ˌ)bəs 

-kə-bəs

: a 15th century matchlock gun which was portable but heavy

harquebusier

ˌhär-kwi-(ˌ)bə-ˈsir 

-kə-bə-

noun

harquebusier

2 of 2

noun (2)

har·​que·​bus·​ier

variants or arquebusier

-ˈsi(ə)r, 

-ˈsiə

plural -s

: a soldier armed with a harquebus or sometimes with a musket or other gun

at the head of a company of harquebusiers

—Frank Yerby

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle French harquebuse, arquebuse, modification of Middle Dutch hakebusse, from hake hook + busse tube, box, gun, from Late Latin buxis box

Noun (2)

Middle French, from harquebuse, arquebuse + -ier -er

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1532, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

harquebus

noun

har·​que·​bus ˈhär-kwi-(ˌ)bəs 

variants or arquebus

ˈär- 

: a portable firearm of the 15th and 16th centuries later replaced by the musket