culverin en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈkʌlvəɹɪn/
Etymology
From Middle English culveryne, from Old French coulevrine, from couleuvre (“snake”) (or from Latin colubrīnus), ultimately from Latin colubra, coluber (“snake”). Doublet of colubrine.
Meanings
- (historical) Any of a range of early gunpowder-fired guns of various sizes, from firearm to artillery. ▸ A kind of handgun.
-
(historical) Any of a range of early gunpowder-fired guns of various sizes, from firearm to artillery. ▸ A large cannon.
This had been discharged from a culverin on the opposite side of the valley.
1895, R. D. Blackmore, Slain By The Doones, Dodd, Mead and Company, page 6: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.
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:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| culverins | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
demiculverin · aspic · demi-culverin
Deriveds
Translations (14)
it colubrina (handgun) · pt colubrina (handgun) · nl culverin (handgun) · es culebrina (handgun) · ca colobrina (handgun) · fi kulveriini (cannon) · pl kolubryna (cannon) · de Feldschlange (handgun) · fr couleuvrine (handgun) · enm culveryne (cannon) · cs kulverina (handgun) · nl veldslang (handgun) · de Kolubrine (handgun) · ro culevrină (handgun)