From Ch.1 of The Three Musketeers:
"Many citizens, seeing the women flying toward the High Street, leaving their children crying at the open doors, hastened to don the cuirass, and supporting their somewhat uncertain courage with a musket or a partisan, directed their steps toward the hostelry of the Jolly Miller, before which was gathered, increasing every minute, a compact group, vociferous and full of curiosity. "

partisan 2
n.
5MFr partisane < It partigiana, fem. of partigiano (see prec.): sense infl. by pertugiare, to pierce6 a broad-bladed weapon with a long shaft, used esp. in the 16th cent.