Definition

A type of rifle that was used by the French army, known for its breechloading mechanism and introduced in the 1860s.

Example

The soldiers were trained to use the Chassepot rifle effectively during the war.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of the chassepot?

Yeah, it was a pretty interesting rifle used by the French army.

I read that it was one of the first breechloading rifles.

Exactly! It really changed the way soldiers approached warfare.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Chassepot is derived from the French word 'chasser' (meaning to hunt) and 'pot' (meaning pot or container). The term originally referred to a type of rifle used by the French army, which was designed for hunting and military purposes.

Memory Tip

Think of 'hunting' ('chasser') and 'container' ('pot') to remember that 'chassepot' refers to a rifle used for hunting.

Visually Confused Words