SNAPHANCE

DEFINITIONS CONTINUED
NOUNS
2. a snappish retort; a curt, sharp answer; a ready answer or argument (obsolete)
3. a woman of low character (obsolete)
4. an early form of flint-lock used in muskets and pistols
5. a musket, gun, etc. fitted with a lock of this kind, used in the 16th-17th centuries (Hist.); a soldier armed with this form of gun (obsolete)

CLICK HERE FOR KEY TO SOURCES

ETYMOLOGY
(From E-NED) of Continental origin, repr. Dutch and Fleming snaphaan (in Kilian snap-haen), Middle Low German snaphân, Low German snapphân, German schnapphahn († -han), from snappen, schnappen snap vb. + haan, hahn cock. 
It is not quite clear whether the sense is ‘snapping cock’ or ‘cock-snapper’ (i.e. cock-stealer). In English the second element may have been confused with the personal name Hans; but Heyne (in Grimm's Dict.) cites an early example of G. schnaphons.]

EXAMPLE
From: The Works of John Marston
Edited By J.O. Halliwell, Vol. III, 1856
The Scourge of Villanie. By Iohn Marston, Printed 1599. Satyre IV.