▪ I. fusil1 Her.
(ˈfjuːzɪl)
Forms: 5–6 fusille, 7 fusile, -ll, 7– fusil.
[ad. OF. fu(i)sel (F. fuseau):—popular L. *fūsell-us, dim. of fūsus spindle.
The mod. Fr. heraldic term is fusée; but the adj. fuselé, = fusilly, seems to show that fusel was formerly used in this sense.]
A bearing in the form of an elongated lozenge; understood to have been originally a representation of a spindle covered with tow.
| 1486 Bk. St. Albans, Her. E ij a, It is calde fusillit for it is made all of fusillis. 1572 J. Bossewell Armorie ii. 34 b, Fusilles, whiche are so termed, for that they be made like Spindles. 1602 Segar Hon. Mil. & Civ. ii. xiv. 79 Embrodered round about with a border of flames, fusils and fleeces. 1653 A. Ross Πανσεβεια (1658) 351 The great Collar was made of double Fusiles enterwoven with Stones and Flints, sparkling flames of fire. 1765–87 in Porny Her. Gloss. 1828–40 Berry Encycl. Her. I. s.v., The fusil nearly resembles the lozenge in shape, but is longer. |
| Comb. 1860 J. Hewitt Anc. Arm. II. 235 Fusil-shaped spikes [of a Rowel-spur]. |
Hence † ˈfusilled ppl. a. (see quot. 1486 above).
▪ II. fusil2
(ˈfjuːzɪl)
Also 6 fusill, 8–9 fuzil; and see fusee1.
[a. F. fusil (OF. fuisil) = It. focile:—late L. *focīle, f. focus hearth (in pop. Lat. fire).]
† 1. A fire steel for a tinder-box. Obs.
| 1580 Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Vn Fusil, a Fusill to strike fire in a tinder boxe. |
2. A light musket or firelock.
| 1680 Eng. Milit. Discipl. i. 20 The Mousqueton is not so long as the Fusil or Fire-Lock. 1682 Lond. Gaz. No. 1684/1 Six Men of the tallest Stature, with long Fusils. 1719 De Foe Crusoe i. xx, We were..armed with a fusil..each man. 1762–71 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) V. 137 The dew..had made his fusil rusty, and..he was scraping and cleaning it. 1847 Infantry Man. (1854) 28 Seize the fusil with the left hand. 1876 Bancroft Hist. U.S. IV. xxxii. 555 The sentry snapped a fusil at him. |