cascabel

American  

[kas-kuh-bel] / ˈkæs kəˌbɛl /

noun

1. a knoblike projection at the rear of the breech of a muzzleloading cannon.

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cascabel British  

/ ˈkæskəˌbɛl /

noun

1. a knoblike protrusion on the rear part of the breech of an obsolete muzzle-loading cannon

2. the rear part itself

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Etymology

Origin of cascabel

1630–40; < Spanish: little round bell, rattle < Old Provençal cascavel, akin to Medieval Latin *cascabellus, equivalent to Vulgar Latin *cascab ( us ) (variant of Latin caccabus pot) + Latin -ellus diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

It calls for a whole sheep, rubbed with a paste of lightly roasted ancho, cascabel and mora chiles, seasoned with cinnamon, cloves, cumin and oregano.

From New York Times • Feb. 8, 2021

He knew the rear end of old cannons had a large knob called the cascabel, used to handle the gun.

From Washington Post • Jun. 24, 2019

No doctoring was needed for chilaquiles, a sumptuously saucy mash-up of stewed chicken, cascabel salsa and the same sturdy tortilla chips used for the nachos.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 30, 2017

Ottolenghi’s butter beans in smoked cascabel oil, for example, are amazingly simple to make, fill up a plate, and last for weeks.

From Slate

The opening of the cascabel and its curves, and those of the breech and the muzzle-swell, are verified by means of the "cylinder-block" and the templates.

From Ordnance Instructions for the United States Navy. 1866. Fourth edition. by United States. Navy Dept. Bureau of Ordnance