Also 7 car(r)abin, 8 carrabine. [In 17th c. carabine, a. F. carabine, in It., Sp. and Pg. carabina, the weapon of the CARABIN, q.v.]
A kind of fire-arm, shorter than the musket, used by the cavalry and other troops; ‘a kind of medium between the pistol and the musket’ (J.).
1605. Verstegan, Dec. Intell., i. (1628), 23. The names of Lances, Carabines, pykes, muskets.
1640. T. Carew, On Death K. Sweden, Poems (1651), 103 (R.).
| Nor ought the thunder of their Carabins | |
| Drown the sweet Ayres of our tun’d Violins. |
c. 1645. Howell, The Vote, ii. No pistolls or some rare-spring carrabins.
1660. H. More, Myst. Godl., V. xvi. 189. Discharging their carbines.
1721. De Foe, Mem. Cavalier (1840), 182. I discharged … my carabin twice.
1799. Earl Ancram, in Trans. Roy. Soc. Edin. (1805), V. 246. I had a carabine made at Drogheda.
1815. Wellington, in Gurw., Disp., XII. 345. I will apply for the Carbines for your Cavalry.
1858. Greener, Gunnery, 399. Double rifled carbines can be constructed of so light a weight that their exclusive use for cavalry purposes is not far distant.
1859. Jephson, Brittany, x. 152. His double-barrelled carabine and French horn slung over his shoulder.
b. Comb., as carbine-ball, -lock, -proof, -shot.
1643. Cromwell’s Lett. & Sp., App. 29 July, Retreating in order, near carbine-shot of the enemy.
1655. Marq. Worcester, Cent. Inv., § 44. A Brest-plate … of Carabine-proof.
1721. De Foe, Mem. Cavalier (1840), 66. A salvo of carbine-shot.
1802. Wellington, in Gurw., Disp., I. 380. Ordering … 20,000 carbine balls to be cast.
1814. Byron, Corsair, I. vii. 24. Free from rust, My carbine lock.
