Position of theSwordat open Order. When an officer stands or marches in front of his company, &c. the position of the sword is diagonal across the chest, with the edge upward. At close order, or when the officer is on the flank of his company, &c. the hilt is close to the right thigh, and the blade in the hollow of the right shoulder, with the edge to the front. When mounted, he carries it diagonally across the bridle hand.
When troops or squadrons of cavalry advance:—In the walk, the sword is carried with the blade resting on the right arm; in the trot and gallop, the right hand must be steadied on the right thigh, the point of the sword rather inclining forward; and in the charge, the hand islifted, and the sword is carried rather forward, and crossways in front of the head, with the edge outwards. SeeAm. Mil. Lib.
SWORDSMAN, (Homme d’épée,Fr.); This word was formerly used to signify a soldier, a fighting man. But at present it generally means a person versed in the art of fencing. Hence a good swordsman. The French use the termsBretteurandBretailleur. The former is more immediately applicable to a man who wears a sword and piques himself upon the exercise of it: the latter means a person who frequents fencing schools, and often exercises himself in that art.
SWORDED. Girt with a sword.
Sword-player. A gladiator; one who fences publicly.
Sword-belt. A belt made of leather, which hangs over the right shoulder of an officer, by which his sword is suspended on the left side.
Sword-bearer, (Porte épée,Fr.) One who wears a sword. It also signifies a public officer.
Sword-cutler, (Fourbisseur,Fr.) One who makes swords.
Sword-knot, (Nœud d’épée,Fr.) A ribband tied to the hilt of a sword. All officers should wear sword-knots of a peculiar color and make. They are made of blue silk and gold or silver.
SYCOPHANT. A dirty, mean, groveling creature that sometimes finds its way into the army, and gets to the ear of a superior officer, for the purpose of undermining the good opinion which honest valor and open manhood may have obtained.
SYEF,Ind.A long sword.
SYEF-ul Mulk,Ind.The sword of the kingdom.
SYMBOL. In a military sense, badge. Every regiment in the British service has its peculiar badge.
SYMBOLE,Fr.The French make use of this word in the same sense that they applyEnseigne. Symbole means with them, in a military sense, what badge does with us.
SYMMETRY, (Symmetrie,Fr.) A word derived from the Greek. True symmetry consists in a due proportion, or in the relation of equality in the height, length, and breadth of the parts, which are required to make a beautiful whole, or in an uniformity of the parts with respect to the whole.
SYRTESorsables mouvans,Fr.Quicksands.
SYSTEM, (Systeme,Fr.) A scheme which reduces many things to regular dependence or co-operation. This word is frequently applied to some particular mode of drilling and exercising men to fit them for manœuvres and evolutions. Hence the Prussian system, the Austrian system,the new or mathematical system, &c.
MilitarySystem. Specific rules and regulations for the government of an army in the field, or in quarters, &c.
SYSTEMS, (Systemes,Fr.) In fortification, a particular arrangement or disposition of the different parts which compose the circumference of a town or fortified place, according to the original idea or invention of an engineer. The systems best known under this head, and most followed, are those of Vauban, Cohorn, De Ville, Pagan, &c. SeeFortification.