1 : a slow-burning match lowered over a hole in the breech of a musket to ignite the charge. 2 : a musket equipped with a matchlock.

What does the word flintlock mean?

1 : a lock for a gun or pistol having a flint in the hammer for striking a spark to ignite the charge. 2 : a firearm fitted with a flintlock.

How do Matchlocks work?

The matchlock was the first mechanical firing device. ... It consisted of an S-shaped arm, called a serpentine, that held a match, and a trigger device that lowered the serpentine so that the lighted match would fire the priming powder in the pan attached to the side of the barrel.