Obs. Also 6 curriar, corriar, corier, 6–7 curriour, 7 courriour.
[By some assumed to be identical with CURRIER1; others suggest that it may be from F. coureur, light horseman, scout, skirmisher (see COURIER 2); but evidence is wanting.]
1. An early kind of fire-arm: see quot. 1834.
1557–8. Ld. Wentworth, Lett. to Q. Mary (on siege of Calais) in Hardwick, State Papers (1778). The enemies … with their curriors (which assuredly shot very great bullets and carry far).
1575. Churchyard, Chippes (1817), 105. Their corriars were more woorth Then double tolde, the peeces that wee brought.
1599. Hakluyt, Voy., II. II. 61. He caused his bases, curriers, and harquebusses to be shot off.
1659. Howell, Vocab., § 6. Smaller guns, as courriours, harquebusses, muskets.
1834. Penny Cycl., II. 373/2. The Currier, or currier of war … of the same calibre and strength as the arquebus, but with a longer barrel.
2. A man armed with a currier.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., III. 1215/1. Heerewith a companie of curriours and caliuers were put forward.
1581. Styward, Mart. Discipl., I. 44. 44. The Caleuers or Coriers. Such must haue either of them a good and sufficient peece.
