{ Ar"que*bus, Ar"que*buse } (?; 277), n. [F. arquebuse, OF. harquebuse, fr. D. haak-bus; cf. G. hakenbüchse a gun with a hook. See Hagbut.] A sort of hand gun or firearm a contrivance answering to a trigger, by which the burning match was applied. The musket was a later invention. [Written also harquebus.]