A ramrod is a stick that has a wide end, used for muzzle-loaded [[antique_firearm]]s such as [[musket]]s, [[arquebus]]s, or even [[cannon]]s, to push the projectile up against the propellant (mainly blackpowder) down away from the muzzle, toward the end of the weapon's barrel to be ready to fire. A gun's ramrods can found on and usually held in a notch underneath the barrel.
ramrod