muskeg

[Indian.] A peaty stratum, formed on the surface of a lake by the interlacing of vege. table drift with aquatic plants, on which, in proce of time, shrubs and even trees grow, and capable sometimes of supporting the weight of a railway. mus-kel-un-jěh, s . [MASKINONGE.] müs-ket, *mus-kytte, *mus-quět (quas k), s . [Fr. mousquet (O. Fr. mousket , moschet ) = (1) a small hawk, (2) a gun, from Ital. mosquetto a musket, a musket-hawk, from O. Fr. mouche , mousche ; Ital. mosca=a fly, from Lat. musca . Guns in olden times were frequently called by fanciful names derived from monsters, dragons, serpents, birds of prey, . Cf. falconet , from falcon ; basilisk , culverin, saker, .] *1. The male of the sparrow-hawk. 2. Formerly the fire-arm of the infantry soldier, It supplanted the arquebus, on which it was an im. prove ment. Originally it was a fire-arm discharged by means of a lighted match, and so heavy that it was nece ary to lay it acro a staff or rest before firing it. In modern warfare it is superseded by the rifle.