brownbess (brounbes)

[Said to be formed in punning imitation ( Be for Bill ) of brown bill, the old weapon of the English infantry.] A name given to the regulation bronzed flintlock musket formerly used in the British army. brown bill (broun'bil), n. A kind of halbert formerly used by the English foot-soldiers. See bill2, 2. The black, or as it was sometimes called, the brown - bill , was a kind of halbert, the cutting part hooked like a woodman's bill, from the back of which projected a spike, and another from the head. Grose.