An early type of portable gun or firearm used in the 15th and 16th centuries, often mounted on a support or rest.
From Dutch 'haakbus' meaning 'hook gun,' combining 'haak' (hook) and 'bus' (gun). The hook was used to support the weapon's recoil. The term entered English through military contact with Dutch forces during the Renaissance.
Before muskets became standard, soldiers actually used hooks attached to their guns to brace against walls or fortifications—the haquebut was basically the original weapon accessory! This innovation solved a huge problem with the massive kickback these early firearms produced.
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