Musket vs. Bayonet — What's the Difference?

A musket is a muzzle-loaded long gun that appeared as a smoothbore weapon in the early 16th century, at first as a heavier variant of the arquebus, capable of penetrating heavy armor. By the mid-16th century, this type of musket went out of use as heavy armor declined, but the term musket continued as the name given for any hand held long gun until the mid-19th century.

A bayonet (from French baïonnette) is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit on the end of the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar firearm, allowing it to be used as a spear-like weapon. From the 17th century to World War I, it was considered a primary weapon for infantry attacks.

A smoothbore shoulder gun used from the late 1500s through the early 1800s.

A blade attached to and extending from the muzzle end of a musket, rifle, or other firearm and used as a weapon in close combat.

A kind of firearm formerly carried by the infantry of an army, originally fired by means of a match, or matchlock, for which several mechanical appliances (including the flintlock, and finally the percussion lock) were successively substituted; ultimately superseded by the rifle.

To prod, stab, or kill with this weapon.

(falconry) A male Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus).

(military) A pointed instrument of the dagger kind fitted on the muzzle of a musket or rifle, so as to give the soldier increased means of offence and defence. Originally, the bayonet was made with a handle, which needed to be fitted into the bore of the musket after the soldier had fired.

The male of the sparrow hawk.

(engineering) A pin which plays in and out of holes made to receive it, and which thus serves to engage or disengage parts of the machinery.

A species of firearm formerly carried by the infantry of an army. It was originally fired by means of a match, or matchlock, for which several mechanical appliances (including the flintlock, and finally the percussion lock) were successively substituted. This arm has been completely superseded by the rifle, and is now only of historical interest.

(transitive) To stab with a bayonet.

A muzzle-loading shoulder gun with a long barrel; formerly used by infantrymen

(transitive) To compel or drive by the bayonet.

A pointed instrument of the dagger kind fitted on the muzzle of a musket or rifle, so as to give the soldier increased means of offense and defense.

A pin which plays in and out of holes made to receive it, and which thus serves to engage or disengage parts of the machinery.

To stab with a bayonet.

To compel or drive by the bayonet.

A knife that can be fixed to the end of a rifle and used as a weapon

Stab or kill someone with a bayonet