U.S. Also 9 escopate, -et. [ad. Sp. escopeta (assimilated to Fr. escopette) musket, ad. It. schioppetto, scoppietto, f. schioppo (by metathesis scoppio) noise, explosion, L. sclopus, stlopus the noise produced by a blow on the inflated cheek (in med.L. ‘a gun’).] A sort of carbine, used chiefly in Mexico and the adjoining parts of the U.S.
1807. Pike, Sources Mississ., II. (1810), 201. 50 dragoons and 50 mounted militia of the province, armed in the same manner, viz: Lances, escopates and pistols.
1850. B. Taylor, Eldorado, xxxiii. (1862), 336. A ranchero, carrying an escopette and three turkeys … offered his horse in exchange.
1851. Mayne Reid, Rifle Rangers, xx. A dozen … men were … firing their escopettes and pistols as they came down.
