culverin

From Middle English culveryne, from Old French coulevrine, from couleuvre (“snake”) (or from Latin colubrīnus), ultimately from Latin colubra, coluber (“snake”). Doublet of colubrine.

• IPA^(key): /ˈkʌlvəɹɪn/

culverin (plural culverins)

1. A kind of handgun.
2. A large cannon.
   • 1616, M. Robert Anton, “The Philosophers fovrth Satyr of Mars”, in The Philosophers Satyrs, London: Printed by T[homas] C[reede] and B[ernard] A[lsop] for Roger Iackſon, page 36:

     Let Sacars, Culuerings, and Cannons ſound / In honour of their bones, and rock the ground / With all your deafning terrors: for behold / The Balſum for your wounds, are rich mens gold, / Powder the world with wonder, and thus crie, / The Camel now may paſſe the needles eie.

   • 1895, R. D. Blackmore, Slain By The Doones, Dodd, Mead and Company, page 6:

     This had been discharged from a culverin on the opposite side of the valley.

From Old French coulevrine, from couleuvre (“snake”), ultimately from Latin colubra, coluber (“snake”).

culverin f (plural culverinnen, diminutive culverinnetje n)

1. culverin, a kind of handgun

culverin

1. Alternative form of culveryne