Definition

1. Noun:
   • A muzzle-loading shoulder gun with a long barrel; formerly used by infantrymen: A "musket" is a type of firearm that is loaded from the open end of the barrel (the muzzle). It is designed to be fired from the shoulder and has a long barrel. Historically, it was a standard weapon for foot soldiers (infantry).

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The soldier carefully loaded his musket before the battle.
  • Museums often display muskets from the 18th century.
  • The invention of the musket changed military tactics.

Advanced Usage

• "to shoulder a musket": to take up a musket, often implying preparing to fight or serve as a soldier.
  • In times of war, many farmers had to shoulder a musket and defend their land.
• "musket fire": the sound or act of firing muskets.
  • The air was filled with the crackle of musket fire.

Variants and Related Words

• Musketeer (noun): A soldier armed with a musket.
  • The Three Musketeers is a famous novel about French guardsmen.
• Musketoon (noun): A short-barreled musket.
• Musket ball (noun): The spherical lead projectile fired from a musket.

Synonyms

• Flintlock: A type of musket or pistol where the gunpowder is ignited by a spark from a flint.
• Shoulder gun: A general term for a long gun fired from the shoulder.

Related Phrases

• "Brown Bess": The informal name for the British Army's Land Pattern Musket, used in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
  • The Brown Bess was a reliable musket for its time.

Noun

1. a muzzle-loading shoulder gun with a long barrel; formerly used by infantrymen