Arquebus \Ar"que*bus\, Arquebuse \Ar"que*buse\ (?; 277), n. [F.
arquebuse, OF. harquebuse, fr. D. haak-bus; cf. G.
hakenb["u]chse a gun with a hook. See {Hagbut}.]
A sort of hand gun or firearm a contrivance answering to a
trigger, by which the burning match was applied. The musket
was a later invention. [Written also {harquebus}.]
[1913 Webster]