noun

musket

MUHS-kuht

Musket (noun) means an old type of long-barrelled firearm carried by infantry soldiers before the rifle became standard. Example: “The re-enactors fired their muskets in a smoky volley across the field.”

noun

An old type of long-barrelled firearm carried by infantry soldiers before the rifle became standard.

"The re-enactors fired their muskets in a smoky volley across the field."

How to use musket

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn old-fashioned, long gun used by soldiers before rifles took over.

Common pairings

load a musket musket fire flintlock musket

Word forms

muskets plural

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The re-enactors fired their _____ in a smoky volley across the field.

Etymology

From Middle French mousquet, via Italian moschetto ("little fly"), originally the name for a small hawk before being applied to firearms named after birds of prey.

Origin: Middle French

Frequently asked questions

What does “musket” mean?

The word “musket” means an old type of long-barrelled firearm carried by infantry soldiers before the rifle became standard. In plain terms, an old-fashioned, long gun used by soldiers before rifles took over.

How do you pronounce “musket”?

“Musket” is pronounced MUHS-kuht (/ˈmʌskət/ in IPA).

How do you use “musket” in a sentence?

Here is “musket” used in a sentence: “The re-enactors fired their muskets in a smoky volley across the field.”

What part of speech is “musket”?

“Musket” is a noun.

Where does the word “musket” come from?

The word “musket” comes from Middle French. From Middle French mousquet, via Italian moschetto ("little fly"), originally the name for a small hawk before being applied to firearms named after birds of prey.