What is another word for ancient firearm?

Answer 1

Several names for firearms come out of antiquity. Probably the most common and perhaps original designation for early small firearms was the 'hand cannon.' This name was derived from the fact that earliest projectile weapons that utilized fire-based propellant ware variations on the basic concept of a field cannon. 'Hand cannon' was probably the earliest designation for small-arms, since it was actually just a miniaturized cannon that could be carried by a single man.