The arquebus (pronounced ɑr-kə-bus or -kwə-bus) (sometimes spelled harquebus, harkbus or hackbut; from Dutch haakbus, meaning "hook gun")'s an early muzzle-loaded firearm used in the 15th to 17th centuries. In distinction from its predecessor, the hand cannon, it's a matchlock. Like its successor, the musket, it's a smoothbore firearm, but it's lighter and easier to carry. It's a forerunner of the rifle and other longarm firearms. An improved version of the arquebus, the caliver,… (More on Harquebus)