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The arquebus (sometimes spelled harquebus, harkbus[1] or hackbut; from Dutch Haakbus, meaning "hook gun"[2]) was a primitive firearm used in the 15th to 17th centuries. Like its successor, the musket, it was a smoothbore firearm, although somewhat smaller than its predecessors, which made it easier to carry. It was a forerunner of the rifle and other longarm firearms.