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Glite Dictionary
arquebus

arquebus

1 9.9
A long early gun carried and fired from the shoulder used in the 1500s and 1600s
  • noun
  • /ˈɑrkəˌbəs/
  • Archaic
translation icon : arquebus
  • During the Renaissance, an arquebus revolutionized warfare with its powerful fire capability compared to older weapons.

Examples

  • In a gunfight, do you want an arquebus, or do you want an AR-15?

    Blog text (15)

  • An arquebus.

    Curdled (1996)

  • In the 1500s, soldiers often carried an arquebus into battle instead of traditional bows and arrows.

  • The museum displayed an impressive collection of ancient firearms, including a beautifully crafted arquebus from the 17th century.

Synonyms

hagbut
vsarquebus
  • Archaic
9.9

An old gun with a long barrel used by soldiers to shoot from a distance

is the broader historical term used from the 15th to 17th centuries
harquebus
vsarquebus
  • Archaic
9.9

A long gun soldiers used in the 1500s and 1600s

is the standard historical name covering the same period
hackbut
vsarquebus
  • Archaic
9.9

A long-barrel gun used in war from the 1400s to the 1600s

is the usual term rather than this archaic form

Surface Forms

arquebus singular
arquebuses plural

Etymology

The word arquebus comes from an old German/Dutch name hakenbüchse, made of haken 'hook' and büchse 'box' or 'gun'. Early arquebuses had a metal hook to take the heavy kick when fired, so the name is like 'hook-gun' and helps explain why an arquebus is a long, early gun you fire from the shoulder.