escopette U.S.
(ɛskəʊˈpɛt)
Also 9 escopate, -et.
[ad. Sp. escopeta (assimilated to Fr. escopette) musket, ad. It. schioppetto, scoppietto, f. schioppo (by metathesis scoppio) noise, explosion, L. sclopus, stlopus the noise produced by a blow on the inflated cheek (in med.L. ‘a gun’).]
A sort of carbine, used chiefly in Mexico and the adjoining parts of the U.S.
| 1805 Pike Sources Mississ. ii. (1810) 201, 50 dragoons and 50 mounted militia of the province, armed in the same manner, viz., Lances, escopates and pistols. 1850 B. Taylor Eldorado xxxiii. (1862) 336 A ranchero, carrying an escopette and three turkeys..offered his horse in exchange. 1851 Mayne Reid Rifle Rangers xx, A dozen..men were..firing their escopettes and pistols as they came down. |