a firearm of large calibre used in the 16th and early 17th centuries, esp by cavalry soldiers
Word origin
C16: from French, literally: of the breast, from poitrine breast, from Latin pectus
petronel in American English
(ˈpɛtrənəl)
noun
a carbinelike firearm, used in the 15th to 17th cent.
Word origin
altered (as if < petro-) < Fr petrinal < OFr peitrine (Fr poitrine), breast, chest < L pectus (gen. pectoris), chest: it was rested against the chest in firing