noun
- Plural of hagbut; early portable firearms or muskets used in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Usage: archaic; historical; also spelled 'arquebus' or 'harquebus' in modern usage
Examples
- The soldiers were armed with hagbuts and pikes during the Renaissance.
- Hagbuts represented a significant advancement in military technology over traditional bows.
- The regiment's hagbuts required careful maintenance and slow reloading between shots.
- Historical records describe hagbuts as heavy and difficult to aim without support.
- By the 18th century, hagbuts had been largely replaced by more efficient firearms.