culverin

From Middle English culveryne, from Old French coulevrine, from couleuvre (“snake”) (or from Latin colubrīnus), ultimately from Latin colubra, coluber (“snake”). Doublet of colubrine.

• IPA^(key): /ˈkʌlvəɹɪn/

culverin (plural culverins) (historical)

2. Any of a range of early gunpowder-fired guns of various sizes, from firearm to artillery.
   1. A kind of handgun.
   2. A large cannon.

      Coordinate terms: demiculverin, demi-culverin, aspic

      • 1616, M. Robert Anton, “The Philosophers fovrth Satyr of Mars”, in The Philosophers Satyrs, London: Printed by T[homas] C[reede] and B[ernard] A[lsop] for Roger Iackſon, page 36:

        Let Sacars, Culuerings, and Cannons ſound / In honour of their bones, and rock the ground / With all your deafning terrors: for behold / The Balſum for your wounds, are rich mens gold, / Powder the world with wonder, and thus crie, / The Camel now may paſſe the needles eie.

      • 1895, R. D. Blackmore, Slain By The Doones, Dodd, Mead and Company, page 6:

        This had been discharged from a culverin on the opposite side of the valley.

From Old French coulevrine, from couleuvre (“snake”), ultimately from Latin colubra, coluber (“snake”).

culverin f (plural culverinnen, diminutive culverinnetje n)

1. culverin, a kind of handgun

culverin

1. alternative form of culveryne