† ˈhackbush, ˈhagbush Obs.
Also 5 hak(e)buss, 5–6 hacbush, 6 hackbus.
[a. rare OF. haquebusche (1475), harquebusche (1478), a. MFl. haec-, haegbusse, hakebus, hagebus, (mod.Du. haakbus) = MLG. hake-, hakelbusse, MHG. hakenbühse, (mod.G. hakenbüchse); f. haken, hake, etc. hook + bühse, busse, bus gun, fire-arm; lit. ‘hook-gun’, so called from the hook originally cast on the gun, by which it was attached to a point of support. In French the usual 16th c. forms were haquebute and (h)arquebuse, whence hackbut and harquebus.]
An early form of fire-arm; = hackbut; see etymology, and harquebus. It was at first a wall-piece, afterwards used in the field with a portable tripod or rest.
| 1484 in Harleian MS. No. 433. lf. 157 b, A Warrant to the Constable of the Towre, to delivre to Roger Bikley 8 Serpentynes upon Cartes, 28 Hacbushes with theire frames. 1485 Naval Accts. Hen. VII (1896) 50 Hakebusses xij. Ibid. 95 Trestelles for hakbusses. 1548 Hall Chron. (1809) 787 The Prior of Rome was by a Hackbush slayn. |
| β 1539 Indent. in Archæol. XXII. 69 In the towre at th' end of the whyte wall, 8 double hagbushes. 1547 Inv. Ibid. 70 Hagbushes of iron, hagbushes shotte, hagbuttes of croke of iron. 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VIII, 28 With artilerie, as Fawcones, serpentynes, cast hagbushes. |