a. Also 7 biscan, 8 biskaine. [f. Biscay + -AN.] Belonging to, or characteristic of, the province of Biscay; also as sb., an inhabitant or native of Biscay. So Biscayanism (6 biscanism), the Basque language. Biscayen [ad. F. biscaïen], a. A long heavy musket, first used in Biscay; b. One of its balls (see quot.). Biscayner (Biskiner, Biscainor, Biscayneer), a native of Biscay, a Biscayan ship.
1634. Massinger, Very Wom., IV. iii. Almira. What country are you of? Antonio. A Biscan, lady.
1769. Pennant, Zool., III. 39. The cargo of two great Biskaine ships.
1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, II. 936. There are three varieties of this forge [in which malleable iron is obtained directly from the ore], the Catalan, the Navarrese, and the Biscayan.
1596. Nashe, Haue With You, Wks. (Grosart), III. 78. Biscanism the most barbarous Spanish.
1812. Examiner, 14 Sept., 581/2. He was struck on the shoulder by a Biscayen. Ibid., 588/1. A Biscayen is a cannon ball of a small calibre.
1601. J. Keymor, Dutch Fish., in Phenix, II. 225. Fish taken by the … Biscainers.
1813. Sismondi’s Lit. Europe (1846), I. xii. 342. From the wicked Biscayneer.
