caliver-shot

Updated: May 25, 2025

For as soon as we rowed toward them and interchanged shot, they presently retired and went ashore into the woods, where an ambush of some sixty shot were laid for us: besides two pinnaces and a frigate warping towards us, which were manned as the rest. They kept themselves upon their oars at caliver-shot distance, spending powder apace; as we did some two or three hours.

- Sir Francis Drake Revived

They lay on their oars "at caliver-shot distance," and opened a smart musketry fire, "spending powder apace," without pausing, for two or three hours. One man was wounded on Drake's side. The Spanish loss could not be told, but Drake's men could plainly see that the Spanish pinnaces had been shot through and through. One lucky shot went into a Spanish powder tub, which thereupon exploded.

John Masefield - On the Spanish Main: Or, Some English forays on the Isthmus of Darien.