caliver

English

Etymology

Variant of calibre.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkalɪvə/

Noun

caliver (plural calivers)

1. (historical) A type of light musket.
   • c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 88, column 1:

     0, giue me the ſpare men, and ſpare me the great ones. Put me a Calyuer into VVarts hand, Bardolph.

   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 3, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

     That done, running out into the streets, with a crosse-bow in one hand, and a caliver [translating harquebouze] in the other, at two shoots, slew the two first Turks that came next to his gates […].

Anagrams

• caviler, clavier, valeric, velaric