harquebusier
|har-que-bu-si-er|
🇺🇸
/ˌhɑrkəˈbjuːziər/
🇬🇧
/ˌhɑːkəˈbjuːzɪə/
soldier armed with a harquebus
Etymology
'harquebusier' originates from Middle French, specifically the word 'arquebusier', where 'arquebuse' (from Middle Dutch/German) meant 'an early type of shoulder-fired firearm (arquebus).'
'harquebusier' changed from the Middle French word 'arquebusier' (and from the related noun 'harquebus'/'arquebus') and entered English in the 16th–17th centuries as 'harquebusier' (with spelling variants), eventually stabilizing as the modern English 'harquebusier'.
Initially, it meant 'one who uses a harquebus' (a firearm), but over time it came to be used both for infantry armed with arquebuses and for light cavalry equipped with similar firearms.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a soldier armed with a harquebus (an early shoulder-fired firearm); historically used of infantry armed with arquebuses.
A harquebusier stepped forward and fired a volley at the advancing pike formation.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a light cavalryman armed with a firearm (in later use, a mounted trooper equipped with an arquebus or carbine).
During the 17th century the harquebusier often fought as mounted skirmishers rather than heavy cavalry.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/05 14:08