muskets

Noun

musket (plural muskets)

1. A kind of firearm formerly carried by the infantry of an army, originally fired by means of a match, or matchlock, for which several mechanical appliances (including the flintlock, and finally the percussion lock) were successively substituted; ultimately superseded by the rifle.
   • Soldier, soldier, won't you marry me, with your musket, fife and drum.
2. A male Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus).