petronel Now Hist. or arch.
(ˈpɛtrənəl)
Also 6–7 -ell, (6 petrenall, petranel(l, petternel, 7 petronil, pewternel, Sc. puitternell).
[a. F. petrinal (Paré 16th c.), dial. form of poitrinal (poict-, pot-, Godef.), n. use of poitrinal adj. ‘of or belonging to the breast or chest’, f. poitrine breast, chest:—pop.L. *pectorīna, f. pectus, pl. pectora breast. So called because in firing it, the butt end rested against the chest.]
A kind of large pistol or carbine, used in the 16th and early 17th century, esp. by horse-soldiers.
| a 1577 Gascoigne Weedes Wks. (1587) 186 Their peeces then are called Petronels. 1586 R. Lane Let. to Ralegh in Hakluyt's Voy. (1600) III. 263 Being by the way shot thwart the buttocks by mine Irish boy with my petronell. 1598 Barret Theor. Warres v. ii. 143 A Petranell, or horsemans peece. 1602 Aberdeen Regr. (1848) II. 224 Hauing and vsing of ane pistoll and puitternell..and presenting the same, to hawe schott at Andro Hay. 1611 Coryat Crudities 341 Most of the horsemen being well appointed with muskets or pewternels ready charged. 1656 Blount Glossogr., Petronel, a horsemans peece,..which were always hanged at the Brest, ready to shoot, as they do now at the Horses Brest. 1663 Butler Hud. i. ii. 787 But he with petronel upheaved, Instead of shield, the blow received. 1813 Scott Rokeby i. xix, 'Twas then I fired my petronel, And Mortham, steed and rider, fell. 1824 Ann. Sporting VI. 200 Another engine, called a petronel or poitrinal, which, according to Fauchet, was the medium between the harquebuss and the pistol. Nicot, however, says it was..when discharged..rested on the breast of the person who used it. 1838 Hist. Rec. 4th Dragoon Guards Introd. 2 The Cuirassiers were armed Cap-a-pie, and their Arms were a sword and a pair of large pistols, called petrenels. 1881 Greener Gun 35 The German ‘Ritters’ were the first to employ ‘petronels’ or hand⁓bombardes, on horseback. |
† b. transf. = petronellier Obs.
| 1598 Barret Theor. Warres v. ii. 142 The Petronell and Pistolier is..weaponed with a Petronell peece, which is with a snap-haunce. 1602 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass. i. ii. 160 There be neuer an ale-house in England,..but sets forth some poets petternels or demilances to the paper warres in Paules Church-yard. 1622 F. Markham Bk. War iii. i. §5. 82 The third sort which are Carbines, are armed Petronels. |