Obs. exc. Hist. Forms: 6 qualivre, calliour, kalli-, qualli-, kaly-, calea-, 6–7 caly-, cally-, calee-, calever, 7 caliever, calivre, 6–9 calliver, 6– caliver. [App. the same word as CALIBRE; see the quotation from Littré there, and the following:
1588. E. York, Ord. Marshall, in Stow’s Surv. (1754), II. V. xxxi. 570/1. When I was first brought up in Piemount … we had our particular Calibre of Harquebuze to our Regiment, that one Bullet should serve all the Harquebuzes of our Regiment … Of which Worde of Calibre, came first this unapt Term which we use to call a Harquebuze a Calliver, which is the Height of the Bullet and not the Piece. Before the Battell of Mounganter [= Moncontour, 1569], the Prynces caused seven thousand Harquebuzes to be made, all of one Calibre; which were called Harquebuze du Calibre de Monsieur le Prince. So as I think some men not understanding Frenche, brought hither the name of the Height of the Bullet for the Piece.
1594. Barwick, Disc. conc. Weapons, 8. It is supposed by many that the weapon called commonly a Caliver is another thinge than a Harquebuze, whereas in truth it is not, but only a Harquebuze, sauing that it is of a greater circuite or Bullet then the other is of: wherfore the Frenchman doth call it a peece de Calibre, which is as much as to say, a peece of bigger circute.
1611. Florio, Colibro, as Calibro, an instrument that gunners vse to measure the height of any piece or bullet. Also the height or bore of any piece, from whence our word Caliuer is derived; being at first a piece different from others.]
1. A light kind of musket or harquebus, originally, it appears, of a certain calibre, introduced during the 16th c.; it seems to have been the lightest portable fire-arm, excepting the pistol, and to have been fired without a ‘rest.’
1568. in Archæologia (1829), XXII. 78. [In an inventory of the goods at Grafton and Salwarpe 28th November 1568, occurs] ‘Kalyvers.’
1569. [see 3].
1574. Lanc. Lieutenancy (1859), I. 32. Ffitt men to serve wth qualliuers.
1577. Churchw. Acc. St. Margaret’s, Westm. (Nichols, 1797), 19. Paid for newe stocking of five calyvers 12s.
1578. Sir R. Constable, Order of Campe (Harl. MS. 847, lf. 53 b). The ordonnance … halberts, harquebusses, qualivres, launces.
1587. Holinshed, Sc. Chron. (1806), II. 303. A … hot skirmish … between the Englishmen and Frenchmen with hagbuts, caleevers, and pistolets.
1588. Lucar, trans. Tartaglia’s Colloq. Shooting, 61. His Caliuer … must be in length at the least three foote and two ynches, and that the bore of his Caliuer must bee in Diameter 2/3 of an ynch…. The bore of his Musket must bee in Diameter 23/30 of an ynch.
1588. T. Deloney, in Roxb. Ball. (1887), VI. 390. With Muskets, Pikes, and good Caleeuers, for her Graces safegarde then.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, I. i. 3. A good Calliuer charged with good powder and bullet.
1602. Fulbecke, 1st Pt. Parall., 53. He that shooteth in a Caleeuer at birdes.
1613. Hayward, Norm. Kings, 77. Of late yeeres … the harquebuze and calliuer are brought into vse.
1642. in Rushw., Hist. Coll., III. (1692), I. 670. 100 Colliers … whom he armed with Pikes, Musquets, and Calievers.
1678. Phillips, Caliver, or Calliver, a small Gun used at Sea.
1761. Hume, Hist. Eng., II. xxvii. 129. The caliver … was so inconvenient that it had not entirely discredited the bow.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., i. Then you are from the Low Countries, the land of pike and caliver?
1834. Planché, Brit. Costume, 278. During this reign [James I.’s] the caliver, a matchlock that could be fired without a rest, came greatly into use.
† b. A soldier armed with a caliver. Obs.
1581. Styward, Mart. Discipl., I. 44. The Caleuers or Coriers. Such must haue either of them a good and sufficient peece, flaske, touch bore, pouder, shot, [etc.].
1591. Garrard, Art Warre, 83. Calivers or Horgabuzieres or Musketieres.
† 2.
1589. Pappe w. Hatchet (1844), 37. One of them lately at Yorke, pulling out his napkin to wipe his mouth after a lie, let drop a surgeans caliuer at his foote where he stood.
3. attrib. and Comb., as caliver-man, -shot, etc.
1569. in Heath, Grocer’s Comp. (1869), 10. Furnyshed with calyuer matches with flasks.
1613. Purchas, Pilgr., I. V. xv. 447. A calliver-shot could scarce reach from the one side to the other.
1622. R. Hawkins, Voy. S. Sea (1847), 170. In a muskett, two calever shott, or many smaller.
a. 1642. Sir W. Monson, Naval Tracts, i. (1703), 174/2. The Fleet was to pass within Calliver Shot of this Fort.
1829. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xxxii. Ye musquet and calliver-men.
