PLACARD,-PLACART,
or, as it is in the original Dutch languagePlacaat, a term used abroad for a proclamation, edict, &c. put up in all publicplaces, by government authority; whereby their subjects are ordered to do, or forbear, something expressed therein. SeeManifesto.
PLACARD,Fr.any bill, or public paper, that is posted up; same asBulletin. It likewise means a libel.
Placarder,Fr.to post up, to libel.
PLACE,emplacement,Fr.any spot or scite which suits the plans of an architect to build upon.
Place, infortification, signifies, in general terms, a fortified town, a fortress: hence we say it is a strong place. SeePocket Encyclopedia, vol. V.Place.
Placeof arms, (Place d’armes,Fr.) This term has various significations, although it uniformly means a place which is calculated for the rendezvous of men in arms, &c.
1st. When an army takes the field, every strong hold or fortress which supports its operations by affording a safe retreat to its depots, heavy artillery, magazines, hospitals, &c. is called aplace of arms.
2dly. In offensive fortification, those lines are calledplaces of arms, orparallels, which unite the different means of attack, secure the regular approaches, &c. and contain bodies of troops who either do duty in the trenches, protect the workmen, or are destined to make an impression upon the enemy’s outworks.
There aredemi-places of armsbetween theplaces of arms. These are more or less numerous in proportion to the resistance made by the besieged.
Placesof armsbelonging to the covert-way. These are divided into two sorts, viz.saliantandrentrantplaces of arms. There are likewise places of arms composed of traverses, which are practised or made in the dry ditches of military towns, in a perpendicular direction to the faces of the half-moons and the tenaillons.
Placeof arms in a town, a place left near its centre, where generally the grand guard is placed. In towns regularly fortified, the place of arms should be in the centre. In this place the soldiers of the garrison parade, form, and mount guard, &c.
Placeof arms of an attack, or of a trench, are deep trenches 15 or 18 feet wide, joining the several attacks together: they serve for a rendezvous and station to the guard of the trenches, to be at hand to support the workmen when attacked. It is customary to make 3 places of arms, when the ground will permit: the first, and most distant from the place, is about 300 toises, or 600 yards, from the glacis of the covert-way; the second is within 140 toises, or 280 yards; and the third at the foot or the glacis. SeeParallels.
Placeof arms of a camp, was, strictly speaking, the bell-tents, at the head of each company, where the arms were formerly lodged; likewise a place chosen at the head of the camp for the army to form in line of battle, for a review, or the like.
Placeof arms of the covert-way, is a part of it, opposite to the re-entering angle of the counterscarp, projecting outwards in an angle.
Placemarécageuse,Fr.a marshy place. A place of this description may be easily fortified, and at little expence; nor does it require many troops for defence. Among other advantages, that of not being exposed to an enemy’s mines, is by no means the least considerable. On the other hand, piles must be sunk in almost every direction: and should it be invested, it is almost impossible to succour it. Add to these inconveniences, the danger to which the garrison must be constantly exposed of being visited by some contagious disorder.
Placeelevée dans un plat pays,Fr.Places that are put in a state of defence in a flat open country. These places are almost always secured by regular fortifications: the soil is good, and there is always plenty of earth adapted to every species of military work: there is abundance of water; and should an enemy attempt to carry them by insuring the works, entrenchments may be easily thrown up to check him. Add to this, that it would require two or three armies, at least, to cut off the various supplies which can be procured from the country round. On the other hand, the goodness and abundance of the soil are equally beneficial to the besieging army. For the troops are thereby enabled to throw up entrenchments, to build redoubts, erect batteries, and by thus securing their approaches, to annoy the besieged at all hours, and in all ways.
Placesituée sur le penchant d’une montagne,Fr.a place situated or built upon the declivity of a hill. It is very difficult to fortify a spot of this sort. Whatever is erected upon it, must be commanded by the higher ground, and the body of the place be, of course, exposed to every attack.
Placesituée dans une vallée,Fr.a town, fortress, or hold that is built in a valley. Places so situated must be in constant jeopardy, as by getting possession of the heights, the enemy can always command them.
Placesituée sur les bords d’une grand riviére,Fr.a place, &c. built upon the banks, or borders of a large river. Places, constructed in a situation of this sort, are preferable to all others, provided they have a free and uninterrupted communication with the principal quarter from whence stores, provisions, and ammunition may be drawn. They may be regularly fortified towards the interior of the country, and it will require little or noartificial means to secure them on the side of the river.
Placede guerre,Fr.any town or place that is regularly, or irregularly fortified.
Placebasse,Fr.In fortification the lower flanks according to certain systems are so called.
Placeforte,Fr.a strong hold or place which presents at all points so many difficult obstacles against a besieging army, that it cannot be carried (except by surprize) unless the regular means of reducing it be resorted to.
Placescontreminées,Fr.all fortresses, &c. are calledplaces contreminées, orcountermined, which, independent of their open and visible means of defence, &c. have subterraneous fortifications that are alongside the revetements of the works, under the glacis, or beneath the neighboring ground, to interrupt the approaches, and destroy the works of a besieging enemy.
Placehaute,Fr.According to the systems of some engineers (which have not been followed of late years) theplace haute, or high place, is that which stands the highest of three platforms that were constructed in the shape of an amphitheatre along the flanks of the bastions. Pagan, Blondel, and others, who have copied from these systems, did so from an idea, that considerable advantages might be derived from a powerful and concentrated discharge of artillery and musquetry. Not conceiving that it was possible to construct casemated flanks free of smoke, they built three or four open flanks one above the other. But they were soon rendered useless and untenable by the shells that fell, and the fragments that flew about in consequence of the demolition of the mason-work. Casemated ramparts, on the contrary, have been known to stand proof against the heaviest discharge of bombs, &c. to take up little room, and to afford ample space for a wide range of artillery, that is kept under cover.
Placesnon revêtues,Fr.all fortified towns or places are so called, when the ramparts that surround them are only lined with placage or simple turf. In this case the ramparts, so lined or covered, ought to be fraised and palisadoed above the berme or foot-path, to prevent surprizes. Hedges made of good quickset, well interwoven with other wood, and carefully attended to, will save the expence of palisadoes, which in marshy soils soon rot, and require to be replaced.
Placesrevêtues,Fr.All fortified towns or places are so called, whose ramparts are lined or covered with brick or stone. It frequently happens, that the revetement does not reach the terre-pleine of the rampart, especially when the parapets are thick and solid; in which case the revetement is more easily covered by the glacis. Parapets are no longer lined.
Place,Fr.This word is frequently used by the French, in a military sense, to signify ration, viz.
UnePLACEde bouche,Fr.one ration of provisions.
DeuxPLACESde fourrage,Fr.Two rations of forage.
To bePLACED. This expression is frequently used in naval and military matters, to signify the appointment or reduction of officers. Hence to be placed upon full or half-pay. It is more generally applicable to the latter case.
PLACER,Fr.to fix, to settle. This word is used among the French, as with us, to express the act of providing for a person by appointing him to a desirable situation, viz.Placer un jeune homme dans un regiment; to get a young man a commission in a regiment.
Un cheval bienPLACE,Fr.A horse is said, among the French, to be well placed, when his forehead runs perpendicularly down between the nostrils.
PLAFOND,Fr.The ceiling.
PLAFONNER,Fr.to ceil or adorn the upper part of a room, &c.
PLAGE,Fr.flat shore, or extent of coast, where there are no creeks, &c. for vessels to ride in.
PLAIE,Fr.a wound or scar.
PLAN,ground plot, orichnography, infortification, is the representation of the first or fundamental tract of a work, showing the length of its lines, the quantity of its angles, the breadth of the ditches, thickness of the rampart, parapets, and the distance of one part from another: so that a plan represents a work, such as it would appear if cut equal with the level of the horizon, or cut off at the foundation: but it marks neither the heights nor depths of the several parts of the works: that is properlyprofile, which expresses only the heights, breadths, and depths, without taking notice of the lengths. As architects, before they lay the foundation of their edifice make their design on paper, by which means they find out their faults, so an engineer, before tracing his works on the ground, should makeplansof his designs upon paper, that he may do nothing without serious deliberation.
Exact plans are very useful for generals or governors, in either attacking or defending a place, in chusing a camp, determining attacks, conducting the approaches, or in examining the strength and weakness of a place; especially such plans as represent a place with the country about it, shewing the rivers, fountains, marshes, ditches, valleys, mountains, woods, houses, churches, defiles, roads, and other particulars, which appertain to it.
PLANof comparison, a geometrical sketch of any fortress and adjacent country within cannon shot, in which thedifferent levels of every principal point are expressed.
PLAN,Fr.SeePlan.
Lever lePLANde quelque place de guerre,Fr.to draw the plan of a fortified town or place.
PLANCHETTE,Fr.a small board or copper-plate, which is used in practical geometry.
PLANCHES,Fr.Boards, planks.
Planchesd’entrevoux,Fr.Boards or planks that are laid between the joists or posts of a building.
PLANCHEYER,Fr.to board or floor.
PLANCONS,Fr.literally twigs, or small round pieces of wood. A term used in hydraulics. SeeBelidor.
PLANIMETRY, (planimetrie,Fr.) that part of geometry which considers lines and plane figures, without any reference to heights or depths, in opposition to stenometry, or the mensuration of solids.
PLANISPHERE, (planisphere,Fr.) a representation of the globe or sphere on paper, for geometrical and astronomical purposes.
ToPLANT, in a military sense, to place, to fix; as to plant a standard. It likewise signifies to arrange different pieces of ordnance for the purpose of doing execution against an enemy or his works. Hence to plant a battery. Johnson applies it to the act of directing a cannon properly. The French use the word generally as we do, except in the last mentioned sense. They say,metre le canon en batterie. In others the term bears the same signification, with occasional deviations when they apply it figuratively, viz.
Planterle piquet chez quelqu’un,Fr.To quarter one-self upon any body.
Planterlà quelqu’un,Fr.To leave a person abruptly, or, as we familiarly say, to leave another in the lurch.
Planterquelque chose au nez de quelqu’un,Fr.To reproach a person with any thing, or, as we familiarly say, to throw it in his teeth.Il lui planter sa poltronnerie au nez; he reproached him openly for his cowardice, or he threw his cowardice in his teeth.
Plante,Fr.To be fixed, to be stationary.Un soldat bien plante sur ses pieds,Fr.A soldier that is well set up.
Planterun bâtiment,Fr.To lay the first stones, or the foundations of a building.
PLAQUE,Fr.The shell of a sword. SeePlacage.
PLAQUESde Plomb,Fr.Sheets of lead. These are used for various purposes. In the artillery, to cover the vent of a cannon; and on board ships of war, to stop the holes, &c. that are made by cannon shot.
PLAQUER,Fr.to lay one plank over another. To cover any space with earth or turf, &c.
PLASM. SeeMould.
PLASTER, a piece of greased leather or rag used by riflemen, &c. to make the ball fit the bore of the piece.
Plaster, in building, a substance made of water and some absorbent matter, such as chalk or lime, well pulverised, with which walls are overlaid.
PLASTRON, a piece of leather stuffed, used by fencing-masters, to receive thereon the pushes made at them by their pupils.
Plastron,Fr.A breast plate or half cuirass. In the old French service the gens d’armes, the heavy cavalry, the light horse, &c. were obliged to wear breast-plates on all occasions at reviews, &c. The hussars were an exception to this order which took place on the 28th of May, 1733. In the original order, dated the 1st of February, 1703, it was particularly specified, that in order to be accustomed to their weight, the above-mentioned corps should wear half cuirasses in time of peace. The captains of troops were obliged to keep the half cuirasses belonging to their men in constant repair.
PLAT,ate,Fr.Flat, level, low. The flat side of any thing; as,Plat de Sabre.
Platpays. A flat or low country. It is generally used among the French to signify that extent, or space of country, on which scattered houses and villages are built, in contradistinction to towns and fortified places. It is likewise used in opposition to a mountainous country.Les soldats de la garnison vivoient aux dépens du plat pays.The soldiers of the garrison lived upon the adjacent villages or country.
Punir àPLATde Sabre. To punish a man by striking him with the flat side of a sabre blade. The French likewise say,des coups de plat d’epée. Blows given with the flat side of a sword. This mode of punishing is frequently adopted in foreign services, particularly among the Germans. M. de St. Germain, minister of the war department under Louis XVI. attempted to introduce it in France, but it was resisted by the army at large.
Battre àPLATEcouture,Fr.To gain a complete and decided victory, or to beat an enemy so as to kill or take almost every man he had to oppose. Hence,une armée battue à plate couture,Fr.An army completely routed and undone.
Platde l’équipage d’un vaisseau,Fr.A dish or mess, consisting of seven rations or portions put together, and served out for the subsistence of seven men, on board French ships of war.
Etre mis auPLATdes malades sur mer,Fr.To be put upon the sick list on board a king’s ship; or to receive such rations as were ordered to be served out to the sick.
PLATAIN,Fr.Flat coast. A spotnear the sea which is well calculated for a descent. AsLe Platain de d’Angoulin, and thePlatain de Chatelaillon, near Rochelle.
PLATES, orprise plates, in artillery, two plates of iron on the cheeks of a gun-carriage, from the cap-square to the centre, through which the prise bolts go, and on which the handspike rest, when used in raising the breech of the gun, &c.
BreastPlates, the two plates, on the face of the carriage, on the other cheek.
BreastPlates, the clasps, with ornamented heads, by which the cross belts in the army are attached.
TrainPlates, the two plates on the cheeks at the train of the carriage.
DulidgePlates, the six plates on the wheel of a gun carriage, where the fellies are joined together.
PLATEAU,Fr.A flat piece of wood, which is sometimes used to place mortars on, &c.
PLATEBANDES,Fr.Capsquares. A particular part of a piece of ordnance, which, though of a flat form or figure, rises beyond the rest of the metal, and is always cast before the moulding. There are three sorts of platbands upon a regular piece of ordnance, viz. capsquare and moulding at the breech; capsquare and moulding of the first reinforce; capsquare and moulding of the second reinforce.
Platebandesd’affuts,Fr.Iron capsquares, which serve to keep the trunnions fast between the cheeks of a piece of ordnance.
PLATFORM, (Platforme,Fr.) The upper part of every brick or stone building which is arched and has more floors than one, is so called. Hence the platform of a tower, or of a redoubt. All pieces of ordnance that are planted on a rampart, or are disposed along the lines of a besieging army, &c. have their platforms.
PLATFORM, ingunnery, is a bed of wood on a battery, upon which the guns stand; each consisting of 18 planks of oak or elm, a foot broad, 2¹⁄₂ inches thick, and from 8 to 15 feet long, nailed or pinned on 4, 5, or 6 beams, from 4 to 7 inches square, called sleeper. They must be made higher behind than before by 6 or 9 inches, to prevent too great a recoil, and to advance the gun easily when loaded. They are from 18 to 20 feet long, 8 feet before and 14 or 15 feet behind.
Permanent batteries, if good stone is not to be had, should be made of brick placed on the edge.
PLATFORMS. The common platforms for gun batteries require the following materials for each: 5 sleepers or joists, 6 inches square, 14 feet long.—1 hunter, 8 or 10 inches square, 8 feet long, 14 planks, 1 foot wide, 11 feet long, 2¹⁄₂ inches thick.—20 pickets.
The usual slope of platforms for guns is one inch to every yard.
The platforms for mortar batteries are made with 3 sleepers 8 inches square, and covered with about 11 timbers of the same thickness. They are laid perfectly horizontal, about 15 feet asunder, and 12 feet from the epaulement. This is the distance commonly practised for firing only at 15 degrees elevation; but if the platforms be placed at the undermentioned distances from the epaulement, the mortars may be fired at the angles corresponding.
over an epaulement of 8 feet high. SeeBattery.
PLATINEde lumiere,Fr.The same asPlaques de Plomb, as far as it regards cannon. With respect to musquets and other firearms, it means that part of the hammer which covers the pan.
PLATOON, inmilitary affairs, was formerly a small body of men, in a battalion of foot, &c. that fired alternately. A battalion was then generally divided into 16 platoons, exclusive of the grenadiers, which formed 2 or 4 platoons more, as occasion required. At present a battalion is generally divided into wings, grand divisions, divisions, (platoons or companies) subdivisions, and sections; and the word platoon is generally used, to denote a number (from 10 to 20) of recruits assembled for the purpose of instruction, in which case it may be considered as synonimous with company; but a platoon may consist of any number under a battalion.
PLATRAS,Fr.Rubbish, such as ashes, pieces of broken brick, mortar, &c. It is used by refiners, for the purpose of distilling saltpetre into proper vessels.
PLATRER,Fr.to plaster, to patch, to daub over.
PLAY, is occasionally applied to a military action; as the cannonplayupon the enemy, &c.
PLEBEIAN. From the LatinPlebius, a distinction made between the poor and rich, in a very early period of Rome; which tended to its ultimate destruction. The term is chiefly used in speaking of the ancient Romans, who were divided into senators, knights, plebians, and common.
PLEDGET, the same asbolster,compress, in surgery, a kind of flat tent, which is laid over a wound, to imbibe the superfluous humors that ooze out, and to keep it clean.
PLEINdu Mur,Fr.The main part or body of a wall.
PLEINfouet, direct shot; or firing so as to hit the mark by the trajectory line.
PLIER,Fr.To give way.
Une aile quiPLIE,Fr.in a military sense, the wing of an army, which gives way. When this occurs, it behoves a wise and executive general, to send immediate support, for the whole army is endangered by the least impression on that quarter.
PLINTH, the square member which serves as a foundation to the base of a pillar.
PLOMB,Fr.literally means lead. It is sometimes used in a military sense, to signify musquet shot, &c.
APlomb,Fr.The perpendicular position of any body or substance.Une muraille est à plomb.A wall built in a straight perpendicular direction.
Donner à plomb,Fr.To fall vertically, as the rays of the sun do in certain latitudes
Etre à plomb,Fr.To stand upright.
Marcher à plomb,Fr.To march with a firm, steady pace.
This word is sometimes used as a substantive, viz.Perdre son a plomb.To lose one’s balance.
Manquer d’a plomb,Fr.To be unsteady.
PLONGEE,Fr.A term used in artillery to express the action of a bomb, &c. which from the highest point of the curve it describes, takes a downward direction to strike its object.
Plongeedu Rampart,Fr.The slope of the upper part of the parapet, belonging to the rampart, is so called. The slope is likewise namedtalus supérieur, or upper talus.
PLONGEONS,Fr.Artificial fireworks, which are shot into water and rise again without being extinguished.
Plongeons,Fr.Plungers or divers. Men of this description ought always to accompany an army, for the purpose of swimming under bridges of boats, &c. and making apertures in their bottoms.
PLONGER,Fr.To plunge any thing into the water. This word is likewise used to express the discharge of ordnance from top to bottom, ascanon plongé.
PLUIEde feu,Fr.literally a shower or rain of fire. It signifies a certain quantity of artificial fireworks, whose discharge falls in regular sparks, without ever deviating into a serpentine direction.
PLUMB,PLUMMET, a leaden or other weight let down at the end of a string, or piece of catgut, to regulate any work in a line perpendicular to the horizon, or sound the depth of any thing. It is of great use to the artillerist, as well as to the engineer.
PLUME, feathers worn by soldiers in the hat or helmet.
PLUMET,Fr.plume, feather. An ornament which is worn by military men in their hats. It succeeded the pannache or bunch of feathers, that formerly adorned the helmets.
PLUMMET. This word is derived from the LatinPlumbum, lead, as a piece thereof is fastened to the end of a thread. The instrument itself is used by masons, &c. to draw perpendiculars with, in order to judge whether walls, &c. be upright planes, horizontal, &c. Pilots, at sea, likewise ascertain their soundings by it. In the forming of recruits it is used to fix lines.
Plummets which vibrate the required times of march in the minute, are of great utility, and can alone prevent, or correct uncertainty of movement; they must be in the possession of, and be constantly referred to by each instructor of a squad.
A musquet ball suspended by a string which is not subject to stretch, (and must of course be kept constantly dry) and on which are marked the different required lengths, will answer the above purpose, may be easily acquired, and should be frequently compared with an accurate standard in the adjutant’s, or serjeant-major’s possession. The length of the plummet is to be measured from the point of suspension to the centre of the ball.
Accurate distances or steps of 24 inches must also be marked out on the ground, along which the soldier should be practised to march, and thereby acquire the just length of pace.
PLUNDER, hostile pillage, or spoils taken in war.
PLUS, in algebra, commonly denotes majus, more, or addition: its character is +. Thus 5 + 7 is read 5plus7, or 5 added to 7 is equal to 12.
PLUTEUS, a defensive machine, which was used by the ancient Romans. It was composed of wicker hurdles laid for a roof on the top of posts, which the soldiers, who went under it for shelter, bore up with their hands. Kennett, in page 238, of his Roman Antiquities, observes, that some will have them, as well as the vineæ, to have been contrived with a double roof; the first and lower roof of planks, and the upper roof of hurdles, to break the force of any blow, without disordering the machine. The plutei, however, were of a different figure from the vineæ, being shaped like an arched sort of waggon; some having three wheels, so conveniently placed, that the machine would move either way, with equal ease. They were put much to the same use as themusculi. Father Daniel, the Jesuit, in his history of the French militia, makes mention of this machine. He quotes a passage out of a poem, intituled the Siege of Paris, by Abbon, the Monk; the meaning of which is, that the Normans brought up a large quantity of machines, that were calledpluteiby the Romans, and that seven or eight soldiers could be put under cover beneaththem. He further adds, that these machines were covered with bull hides.
The moderns have imitated these plutei by adopting mantelets. The chevalier Folard mentions having seen one at the siege of Phillipeville, of a triangular figure, made of cork, interlaced between two boards, and supported by three wheels that turned upon a pivot.
PLUSH, a kind of stuff with a sort of velvet nap or shag on one side, consisting of a woof of a single woollen thread, and a double warp; the one of two woollen threads twisted, the other goat’s or camel’s hair; though there are plushes entirely of worsted, others of hair, and others again of silk, cotton, &c. White plush breeches have been often worn by dragoons. They resist moisture, and are easily cleaned.
PNEUMATICS. The doctrine of the air, or the laws whereby it is condensed, rarefied, gravitated, &c.
PneumaticEngine, denotes the air pump.
PNEUMATIQUE,Fr.Pneumatics.
POIDS,Fr.Weights.
Poidsde Marc,Fr.Avoirdupois weight.
PoidsRomain,Fr.Troy weight.
Poidsà peser l’eau,Fr.Waterpoise.
Etre dePOIDS,Fr.To weigh.
AvecPOIDSet mesure,Fr.With care and circumspection.
POIGNARD,Fr.Dagger, poniard.
Coup dePOIGNARD,Fr.A stab.
Poignarder,Fr.To stab.
POIGNEE,Fr.Handful.Poignée d’hommes; a handful of men; a small number.
Poignee,Fr.Handle of a sword.
LaPoignee,Fr.The handle.
POIL,Fr.Hair.Monter un cheval àPOIL. To ride a horse without a saddle.
Un brave à troisPOILS,Fr.A figurative expression to describe a bully, or gasconading fellow.
POINCON,Fr.A puncheon, bodkin. It is likewise an instrument which is used in the making of artificial fireworks, being calledpoincon à arrêt, from a piece of iron running cross-ways near the point, to prevent it from entering too far.
POINT, in geometry, according to Euclid, is a quantity which has no parts, being indivisible; and according to others, that which terminates itself on every side, or which has no boundaries distinct from itself. This is a mathematical point, and is only conceived by the imagination; yet herein all magnitude begins and ends, its flux generating a line, that of a line a surface, &c. A line can only cut another in a point.
Point,in perspective, denotes various places with regard to the perspective plane, viz.point of sight, orof the eye, orprincipal point, is a point in the axis of the eye, or in the central ray, where the same is intersected by the horizon.
Point, or points of distance, in perspective, is a point or points, for there are sometimes two of them placed at equal distances from the point of sight.
AccidentalPOINTS, orContingentPOINTS, in perspective, are certain points wherein such objects as may be thrown negligently, and without order, under the plan, do tend to terminate. For this reason they are not drawn to the point of sight, nor the points of distance, but meet accidentally, or at random in the horizon.
Pointof the front, in perspective, is when we have the object directly before us, and not more on one side than the other, in which case it only shews the foreside; and if it be below the horizon, a little of the top too, but nothing of the side, unless the object be polygonous.
ThirdPOINT, is a point taken at discretion in the line of distance, wherein all the diagonals drawn from the divisions of the geometrical plane concur.
ObjectivePOINT, a point on a geometrical plane, whose representation is required on the perspective plane.
Pointof concourse, in optics, is that wherein converging rays meet, more commonly called the focus.
Pointof dispersion, is that wherein the rays begin to diverge, usually called the virtual focus.
Point.This term is frequently used in a military sense.As point of intersection, intermediate point, &c.The several applications of which may be seen in the general rules and regulations.
CoveringPOINT, a point which in changes of position materially concerns the movement of one line with another.
When a change of position is made on a flank or central point of the first line, the movement of itscoveting pointof the second line, determines the new relative situation of that second line.
To find this point, it is necessary to premise, that if a circle is described from any point (A) of a first line (AE) with a radius equal to the distance betwixt the two lines; then its covering point (a) at that time in the second line will be always in the circumference of that circle, at such place as the second line becomes a tangent to the circle. Should the first line, therefore, make a change of position (AR) either on a flank or central point (A); its covering point (a) will move so as still to preserve and halt in its relative situation (a 2) and by the movement and halt of that point preceded by the one (d) ofintersection, every other part of the second line, either by following them, or by yielding from them, is regulated and directed. Betwixt the old and new situation of the covering point (a) and equidistant from each, lies thepoint(d) where the old and new positions of the second lineintersect, and which is a mostmaterial one in the movement of that line.
Pointof honor. SeeHonor.
Pointof Appui, the point upon which a line of troops is formed. When the right stands in front, and the column is marching to form, the first halted company, division, &c. is the point of appui. Thus when the right is in front the distant point of formation is the left.
Pointof Intersection, the point where two lines intersect each other.
IntermediatePoint. In marching forward that is called an intermediate point which lies between the spot marched from, and the spot towards which you are advancing. In forming line, the centre point between the right and left is the intermediate point. It is of the utmost consequence to every body of troops, advancing or retreating, but especially in advancing towards the enemy, to find an intermediate point between two given, and, perhaps, inaccessible objects. The line of march is preserved by these means in its perpendicular direction, and every column may be enabled to ascertain its relative point of entry in the same line.
Pointof Alignment, (Point d’alignement,Fr.) The point which troops form upon and dress by.
Pointof Formation, a point taken, upon which troops are formed in military order.
PerpendicularPoint, the point upon which troops march in a straight forward direction.
RelativePoints, the points by which the parallelism of a march is preserved.
Pointof passing, the ground on which one or more bodies of armed men march by a reviewing general.
Pointto salute at, the spot on which the reviewing general stands. This, however, is not to be understood literally, as every infantry officer when he arrives within six paces of the general, recovers his sword and drops it, keeping it in that situation until he shall have passed him a prescribed number of paces. The cavalry salute within the breadth of the horse’s neck, the instant the object is uncovered.
Pointof War, a loud and impressive beat of the drum, the perfect execution of which requires great skill and activity. The point of war is beat when a battalion charges.
Pointdu jour,Fr.break of day; dawn.
Pointde vue,Fr.prospect, sight, aim.
DePOINTen blanc,Fr.point blank.
APOINT,Fr.in time.
APOINTnommée,Fr.seasonably.
LaPOINTE,Fr.the point of the sword.
Pointis also a steel instrument of various use in several arts. Engravers, etchers, wood-cutters, stone-cutters, &c. use points to trace their designs on copper, wood, or stone.
Pointblank, (But en blanc,Fr.) in gunnery, denotes the shot of a piece levelled horizontally, without either mounting or sinking the muzzle. In shooting thus, the bullet is supposed to go in a direct line, and not to move in a curve, as bombs and highly elevated random shots do. We say supposed to go in a direct line, because it is certain, and easily proved, that a shot cannot fly any part of its range in a right line strictly taken; but the greater the velocity, the nearer it approaches to a right line; or the less crooked its range.
For the point blank ranges of different pieces of ordnance, see the different natures.
The Frenchpoint blankorbut en blanc, is what the English artillery call theline of metal elevation; in most guns between one and two degrees.
Pointer,Fr.to point; as,pointer un canon. To point a cannon.
POINTEURS,Fr.Levellers. Officers in the old French artillery, who were subordinate to the extraordinary commissaries; but who were never employed except upon field service.
Pointsd’appui,Fr.Basis, support. The general signification of this term expresses the different advantageous posts, such as castles, fortified villages, &c. which the general of an army takes possession of in order to secure his natural position. In a more limited sense, they mean those points which are taken up in movements and evolutions. SeePoint d’appui.Am. Mil. Lib.
POINTINGof a gun or mortar, is the placing either one or other, so as to hit the object, or to come as near it as possible.
ToPOISONa Piece, (Enclouer une piéce,Fr.) in gunnery, to clog or nail it up.
POISSON,Fr.literally means fish.
POITREL, armor for the breast of a horse.
POIX,Fr.pitch.
Poixrésine,Fr.Rosin.
POLACRE,Fr.A lappel coat.
POLACRE, orPolaque,Fr.a Levantine vessel, which carries a smack sail on the mizen and mizen mast, and square sails on the main mast and bowsprit.
POLAIRE,Fr.Polar.
POLE, in a four wheel carriage, is fastened to the middle of the hind axle-tree, and passes between the fore axle-tree and its bolster, fastened with the pole-pin, so as to move about it; keeping the fore and hind carriages together. It is also called thetongue.
POLES, in castrametation, long round pieces of wood, by which a marquee or tent is supported. There are three sorts, viz.
RidgePole, a long round piece ofwood, which runs along the top of an officer’s tent or marquee, and is supported by two other poles, viz.
FrontPole, a strong pole, which is fixed in the front part of an officer’s tent or marquee, and is kept in a perpendicular position by means of two strong cords, called weather cords, that run obliquely from each other, across two other cords from the rear pole, and are kept fast to the earth by wooden pegs.
RearPole, a strong pole, which is fixed in the back part of an officer’s marquee or tent, and is kept in the same relative position as has been described above.
FirePOLES, orRods, artificial fireworks. They are generally of the length of ten or twelve feet, and of the thickness of two inches at most. One of the ends of the fire pole is hollowed out with three or four flutes to the length of two or three feet. Into one of these flutes are fixed rockets or squibs. Paper crackers are fixed in the others. After holes have been bored through the body of the pole, in order that the rockets may have communication with the crackers, they must be neatly wrapped in paper, the more effectually to deceive the spectators.
POLEAXE, an axe fixed to the end of a long pole. SeeBattle Axe.
POLICE,Fr.in a military sense, among the French, this term comprehends the inspectors, the treasurers, the paymasters, the commissaries, the provost marshal, &c.
Policed’assurance,Fr.a policy of Insurance.
POLICYin war. SeeStratagem.
POLITICAL, relating to policy, or civil government.
POLITICS, (Politique,Fr.) a part of ethics which consists in the governing of states, for the maintenance of the public safety, order, and good morals.
POLK,Fr.a Polish term, signifying a regiment, from whence is derived polkowink, colonel.
POLLAM,Ind., a measure equal to twenty ounces: forty make a viz in weight in Madras.
POLLMoney, commonly called poll-tax, or capitation.
POLTROON, (Poltron,Fr.) a coward, a dastard, who has no courage to perform any thing noble. The etymology of poltron or poltroon, as it is usually pronounced, is curious. Both in ancient and modern times frequent instances have occurred of men, who had been forcibly enlisted, having rendered themselves unfit for service by cutting off their thumbs or fingers. When this happened among the Romans, they were calledPollice trunci. The French, (as they do in most of their words that are derived from the Latin) contract these two, and by an elision make poltron or poltroon, from whence we have adopted the term. Another, and in our opinion a more correct derivation, comes from the ItalianPoltrone, which takes its derivation fromPoltro, a colt; because of that animal’s readiness to run away; orPoltroa bed, as pusillanimous people take a pleasure in lying in bed. This last word is derived from the high DutchPolster, which signifies a bolster or cushion. This contemptible character is so little calculated for a military life, that the slightest imputation of cowardice is sufficient to render an individual unworthy of serving amongrealsoldiers. Poltroon and coward stand, in fact, foremost in the black catalogue of military incapacities. Every young man, therefore, ought well to weigh, examine, and digest the necessary qualifications for a profession, which, above all others, exacts a daring spirit, and an unqualified contempt of death.
POLIGARCHY, (Polygarchie,Fr.) a government composed of many chiefs or leaders.
POLYGARS,Ind.Chiefs of mountainous and woody districts in the peninsula, who pay only a temporary homage.
POLYGON, (Polygone,Fr.) is a figure of more than four sides, and is either regular or irregular, exterior or interior.
RegularPolygon, is that whose angles and sides are equal. It has an angle of the centre, and an angle of the polygon. The centre of a regular polygon, is the centre of a circle, which circumscribes the polygon; that is, whose circumference passes through all the angles of the figure.
IrregularPolygon, is that whose sides and angles are unequal.
ExteriorPolygon, that whose lines touch the points of the flanked angles, when a place is fortified inwards.
InteriorPolygon, that outward fortification which makes the angles of the gorget; so that the whole bastion is without the polygon.
POLYEDRE,Fr.SeePolyedron.
LunettesPolyedres,Fr.Magnifying glasses.