E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Jambon.
A gun, so called from its fanciful resemblance to a “betterave” or jambon. The botanical name of the root is melochia.
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“What would you do to me, brigand? … Give me fifty blows of a matraque, as your officer gave you last week for stealing his jambon?”—Ouida: Under Two Flags, chap. xvi.
