French Conversation · Level 123
59 words
French word
espingole
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛspɛ̃gɔl/
Meaning
- feminine nounblunderbuss
Example
Ils ont restauré une vieille espingole pour la reconstitution historique.
They restored an old blunderbuss for the historical reenactment.
More examples
On a trouvé une espingole dans le grenier pendant les travaux.
A matchlock gun was found in the attic during the renovations.
Core concept
A primitive matchlock gun firing a lead ball after a smoldering cord ignites its powder.
Similar words
fusil: A long shoulder-fired gun used for hunting or target shooting.
pistolet: A small gun designed to be fired with one hand.
arme: A tool or device used for attack or defense.
Definition in French
Arme à feu primitive actionnée par une mèche, antérieure aux fusils à percussion et souvent appelée arquebuse dans les textes anciens.
Word origin
Espingole belongs to an old French and Occitan word family related to Spanish and Portuguese espingarda, terms for early firearms.
Usage tips
- Espingole is feminine, so standard references use une espingole and une vieille espingole.