Hi Brokennock,
My descriptions of fusils and fowlers come directly from Bailey's "Small Arms of British Forces in North America", Didier Bianchi's " French Military Small Arms", Rene Chartrand's "French Military Arms and Armor in North America", and John George's "English Guns and Rifles". It is not my personal speculation. The term "fusil" actually goes back to the 13th century and meant a device for making sparks with steel and flint. It was later applied to any gun using a rock to create spark for ignition including wheelocks, snaplocks, snaphaunces, and flintlocks. In 1671, it was applied to the flintlock arms of the "Fusiliers du Roi" who guarded artillery and powder magazines.
dave