chassepot
/ʃæsˈpoʊ/
noun
- A type of breech-loading military rifle used by the French army in the 19th century, especially during the Franco-Prussian War.
- Historians note that the chassepot's effective range gave France an early advantage in the war.
- French soldiers relied on the chassepot for its faster reloading compared to older muzzle-loaders.
- The museum displayed a well-preserved chassepot rifle from the 1860s.
Synonyms