musket

[ muhs-kit ]

noun

1. a heavy, large-caliber smoothbore gun for infantry soldiers, introduced in the 16th century: the predecessor of the modern rifle.
2. the male sparrow hawk, Accipiter nisus.

musket

/ ˈmʌskɪt /

noun

1. a long-barrelled muzzle-loading shoulder gun used between the 16th and 18th centuries by infantry soldiers

Word History and Origins

Origin of musket¹

1580–90; < Middle French mousquet < Italian moschetto crossbow arrow, later musket, originally kind of hawk, equivalent to mosch ( a ) fly (< Latin musca ) + -etto -et

Word History and Origins

Origin of musket¹

C16: from French mousquet, from Italian moschetto arrow, earlier: sparrow hawk, from moscha a fly, from Latin musca

Example Sentences

In April this year, the musket ball hole was found behind a secret panel by volunteer researchers from the House’s History Team.

From BBC

An initial excavation last summer revealed chimney bases and uncovered a military buckle and lead shot for muskets.

From Seattle Times

That message is echoed in what’s colloquially known as the “musket fire speech,” which recently became required reading for incoming students at Brigham Young University.

From Seattle Times

The defeated soldiers tossed their muskets onto a growing mountain of surrendered weapons, a scene that would go down as one of America’s proudest moments.

From Literature

With muskets drawn, Napoleon asks the chambers, “Shall we vote?”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• carbine
• rifle