In historical military context, a type of cannon or siege gun that was smaller than a full cannon but larger than a hand-cannon.
From Old French 'bâtard' meaning 'bastard' or 'irregular,' applied to cannons because they didn't fit standard size classifications; the term suggests something of mixed or questionable origin.
Medieval soldiers used 'batarde' cannons as field artillery because they balanced firepower with mobility—they were the 'tweener' guns that enabled new warfare tactics armies couldn't use before.
Batarde/bâtarde reflects historical French/European discrimination against children born outside wedlock, with gendered consequences: illegitimate daughters faced severe social restrictions while illegitimate sons had greater mobility.
Modern usage: avoid for people entirely; if discussing typography (bâtarde script), use neutral descriptors. Reference historical context only when analytically necessary.
["illegitimate (historical context only)","outside wedlock","non-marital birth"]
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