fusil

1 of 2

adjective

fu·​sil ˈfyü-zəl 

variants or fusile

ˈfyü-zəl 

-ˌzī(-ə)l

1

archaic

a

: made by melting and pouring into forms : cast

b

: liquefied by heat

2

archaic : fusible

fusil

2 of 2

noun

: a light flintlock musket

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English fusile, borrowed from Latin fūsilis "molten, liquified," from fūsus (past participle of fundere "to pour, shed, cast") + -ilis "subject to, susceptible to (the action of the verb)" (alteration of -ibilis, originally by haplology after verb stems ending in a labial consonant) — more at found entry 5, -able

Noun

borrowed from French (17th century), "steel for striking fire, flintlock firearm," going back to Old French foisil, focil "steel for striking fire," going back to Vulgar Latin *focīlis, from Latin focus "hearth" (Late Latin, "fire") + -īlis, suffix of appurtenance — more at focus entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1680, in the meaning defined above