musket

plural muskets · alternative obsolete musquet

1. A kind of firearm formerly carried by the infantry of an army, originally fired by means of a match, or matchlock, for which several mechanical appliances (including the flintlock, and finally the percussion lock) were successively substituted; ultimately superseded by the rifle.

   Sam, Sam, pick up thy musket.

   5 more examples

   Soldier, soldier, won't you marry me, with your musket, fife and drum.

   […] you may be assured, had they known the terrour of Muskets, Caliuers and Piſtols, they would haue vſed the leſſe Bowes, Speares and Bills; […]

   1590, Roger Williams, A Briefe diſscourſe of Warre, London: Thomas Orwin, page 37

   The Souldier having his Musket ſhoulder'd, muſt ſtand ſtraight upon his Limbs, hold up his Head, and look always to the commanding Officer, […]

   1689, William Plunket, William III of England, “General Obſervations § IV”, in The General Exercise Ordered by His Highness the Prince of Orange, To be punctually obſerved of all the Infantry in Service of the States General of the United Provinces. […] , page 4

   The whole of the tumultuous scene vanished from the senses of Lionel at the flash of the musket of this man, and he sunk beneath the feet of the combatants, insensible of further triumph, and of every danger.

   1869, J[ames] Fenimore Cooper, “Moral Tales and Sketches § Battle of Bunker Hill”, in H. A. Cleveland, editor, Golden Sheaves Gathered from the Fields of Ancient and Modern Literature: A Miscellany of Choice Reading for the Entertainment of the Old and the Young in Hours that Are Lonely and Weary, Zeigler, McCurdy & Co., page 24

   Probably, rifling evolved from the early observation of the feathers on an arrow-and from the practical results of cutting channels in a musket, originally to reduce fouling, then because it was found to improve accuracy of the shot.

   1949, Albert Manucy, “The Era of Artillery § Rifling”, in Artillery Through the Ages[:] A Short Illustrated History of Cannon, Emphasizing Types Used in America, Reprint 1985 edition, page 14

2. falconryA male Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus).