Government powder,-Ordnance-powder,
such powder, as having undergone the customary proof, is so called, and received into the public magazines.
It has been recommended by a French writer to preserve gunpowder at sea by means of boxes, which should be linedwith sheets of lead. M. de Gentien, a naval officer tried the experiment by lodging a quantity of gunpowder, and parchment cartridges, in a quarter of the ship which was sheathed in this manner. After they had been stowed for a considerable time, the gunpowder and cartridges were found to have suffered little from the moisture; whilst the same quantity, when lodged in wooden cases, became nearly half rotted.
Proof of Gunpowder, first take out of the several barrels of gunpowder a measure full, of about the size of a thimble, which spread upon a sheet of fine writing paper, and then fire it, if the inflammation be very rapid, the smoke rise perpendicular, and the paper be neither burnt nor spotted, it is then to be judged good powder.
Then 2 drams of the same powder are exactly weighed, and put into an eprouvette; which if it raises a weight of 24 pounds to the height of 3¹⁄₂ inches, it may be received into the public magazine as proof.
Gun-powder prover. SeeEprouvette.
GUNSHOT, the reach or range of a gun. The space through which a shot can be thrown.
Gunshot-wound. Any wound received from the discharge of cannon or fire-arms.
GUNSMITH, a man who makes fire-arms.
GUNSTICK. The rammer or stick with which the charge is driven into the gun.
GUNSTOCK. The wood to which the barrel of the gun is fixed.
GUNSTONE. Such materials, chiefly stone, as were formerly discharged from artillery.
GUR, a house or dwelling in India.
GURRIES, mud forts made in India are so called. These forts are sometimes surrounded with ditches.
GURRY, an indian term to express a certain division of time, comprehending 24 minutes; but the word among the Europeans is generally understood to mean anhour. A watch is called a gurry.
GUALIOR, a stupendous military fortification on the summit of a rocky eminence in India, south of Jumma, 28 coss, or 56 English miles, from Agra. It was once taken by a daring enterprize by Col. Popham.
GHYRETTY, cantonments seven coss (14 English miles) from Calcutta. It is a palace built by Mr. Dupleix, which the British took by force in 1797, and imprisoned the principal French colonists of Chandernagore there. This was two years before the war in Europe.
GYMNASTIC, (gymnastique,Fr.) pertaining to athletic exercises, such as leaping, wrestling, drawing the cross bow, fencing, &c. The Greeks, among whom the art originated, were accustomed to strip whenever they performed any part of it.