ˈrabinet Obs. exc. Hist.
Forms: 6 rabbinet, 7 -enet, rabanet, -init, 9 -onet, 6– rabinet.
[App. later form of robinet (q.v.).]
A small variety of cannon (see quot. 1644).
Smith Seaman's Gram. (1627) gives the diameter of bore as 1 inch, and the charge as half-a-pound.
| 1587 [see robinet]. 1596 Harington Apol. Ajax A 4 They made a sore batterie, with Rabbinets, minions, Sakers, and Demicannons. 1598 Barret Theor. Warres v. i. 124 Peeces that shoot bullet of waight from seuenteene pound downeward..euen to the Rabinet. 1627 Capt. Smith Seaman's Gram. ii. 11 Rabinits to cleare the Decks fore and aft. 1644 Nye Gunnery i. (1647) 98 The Rabanet hath in diameter at the bore one inch and an halfe, the weight of the shot 8 ounces of Iron, and of Lead 12, the weight of the peece 300, the length 5 foot and an halfe, the charge in powder three quarters. 1727–41 Chambers Cycl., Rabinet, a small piece of ordnance, between a falconet and a base. [1802 James Milit. Dict. s.v. Cannon, Rabinet, which carried a ball of 16 ounces. 1894 C. N. Robinson Brit. Fleet 220 Falconets, and rabonets.] |