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]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

arquebus

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

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.]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)