MUSKET Mus"ket, n. Etym: [F. mousquet, It. moschetto, formerly, a kind of hawk; cf. OF. mousket, moschet, a kind of hawk falcon, F. mouchet, prop., a little fly (the hawk prob. being named from its size), fr. L. musca a fly. Cf. Mosquito.] [Sometimes written also musquet.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The male of the sparrow hawk.
2. A species of firearm formerly carried by the infantry of an army. It was 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. This arm has been generally superseded by the rifle.
MUSKETEER
Mus`ket*eer", n. Etym: [F. mousquetaire; cf. It. moschettiere.]
Defn: A soldier armed with a musket.
MUSKETO
Mus*ke"to, n.
Defn: See Mosquito.
MUSKETOON
Mus`ket*oon", n. Etym: [F. mousqueton; cf. It. moschettone.]
1. A short musket.