demi-culverin Obs. exc. Hist.
(ˌdɛmɪˈkʌlvərɪn)
[ad. F. demi-coulevrine: see demi- 4 and culverin.]
A kind of cannon formerly in use, of about 4½ inches bore.
| 1587 Harrison England ii. xvi. (1877) i. 281 Demie Culuerijn weigheth three thousand pounds. 1598 B. Jonson Ev. Man in Hum. iii. i, They had planted mee three demi⁓culuerings, just in the mouth of the breach. 1611 Coryat Crudities 104 One..was exceeding great..about sixteene foote long, made of brasse, a demy culverin. 1627 Capt. Smith Seaman's Gram. xiv. 70. 1692 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) II. 372 The feild train of artillery in the Tower for Flanders..are to consist of 23 pounders, 10 sakers, and 8 demiculverins. 1772 T. Simes Mil. Guide, Demi-culverin. It is a very good field piece. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xvi. 685 Demiculverins from a ship of war were ranged along the parapets. |
| attrib. 1634–5 Brereton Trav. (1844) 165 She carries..six iron demiculverin drakes. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. vii. (1703) II. 219 Retiring about Demy Culvering shot behind a Stone Wall. |