The Veuglaire (derived from the German Vogler and Vogelfänger, and the Flemish Vogheler, after a gun manufacturer named Vögler. English: Fowler)[1] was a wrought iron cannon,[2] and part of the artillery of France in the Middle Ages. There, guns were initially called French, Middle (ca.1400-1600);: acquéraux, French, Middle (ca.1400-1600);: sarres or French, Middle (ca.1400-1600);: spiroles.
The Veuglaire was up to 2 meters (8 feet) long, and weighing from 150 kg to several tonnes, and compares to the Crapaudins or Crapaudaux, which were shorter (4 to 8 feet) and lighter than the Veuglaires.[3] The Veuglaires were usually breech-loading, and therefore used a separate "powder chamber" (boîte à poudre) in which powder and ball were located upon loading,[4] [5] and the main body of the cannon was formed of a tube opened at both ends.
Veuglaires, together with Crapaudins, were considered medium-sized weapons and tended to have smaller chambers than bombards.[6] They belonged to a category of weapons developed from the late 14th century, which had smaller bore and flatter trajectory. The category includes the culverin, curtall, serpentines, falcon and arquebus.[7]