handgonne

plural handgonnes

1. historicalA handheld pre-matchlock black-powder gun.

   It is not known exactly when handheld black-powder weapons were first used, nor when the handgonne was later replaced by the matchlock.

   2010, Sean McLachlan, Medieval Handgonnes, Osprey Publishing, page 4

   1 more example

   mere dry-as-dust knowledge of how Cæsar invaded Gaul, or Hannibal Italy, is about as useful as a knowledge of the "handgonne" would be for working a 12-pounder breech-loader.

   1894, W. H. James, Modern Strategy