Etymology Dictionary

HACKBUT,  an arquebus, an old kind of musket.  (F.,—Du.)   In Holinshed, Hist. Scotland, an. 1583; hackbutter, a man armed with a hackbut, id. an. 1544.   Rich. says that 'the 33 Hen. VIII. c. 6, regulates the length in stock and gun of the hagbut or demihaque, and sets forth who may keep and use them.'   Also spelt hagbut, less correctly.—O. F.  haquebute, 'an haquebut, or arquebuze, a caliver;' Cot.   β. So called from the bent shape of the gun, which was an improvement upon the oldest guns, which were made straight; see Arquebus.   It seems to be a mere corruption of Du. haakbus (haeckbusse in Hexham), an arquebus; due, apparently, to some confusion with O. F. buter, to thrust.—Du. haak, a hook; and bus, a gun-barrel; thus the sense is 'gun with a hook.'