TAP-TOO.-TAT-TOO.
SeeDrum.
TAR. A kind of liquid pitch used in the composition of some sorts of fireworks.
TarandFeathers. A method of punishment invented in the American revolution, which consisted in pouring a bucket of tar over the head of the culprit, and loosing a bag of feathers over it. See the poem ofM‘Fingal.
TARANTHE,Fr.A thick iron peg which is used to turn the screw in a press.
TARAU,Fr.An instrument which is used in making the nut of a screw. It is a round piece of steel with a spiral shape.
TARAUDER,Fr.To make a hole like that which is effected by the operation of theTarau.
TARE,Fr.A word adopted by the French from the English term Tar.
TAREAU,Fr.A screw-tap.
TARGE,Fr.SeeTarget. It is generally pronouncedTargue, from whence is derived the figurative expressionSe targuer, to plume one’s-self, or to be self-sufficient.Le poltron se targue du courage de son père—The coward plumes himself upon the courage which his father possessed.
TARGET, a sort of shield, being originally made of leather, wrought out of the back of an ox’s hide.
Target, is also a mark for the artillery, &c. to fire at in their practice.
TARIERE,Fr.Auger, wimble, gimlet. The French make a distinction with respect to the gender of this word. When they express a large sized auger or wimble, they say,Un gros Tarière, making it masculine, and when they mean a small sized one, they say,Une petite tarière, making it feminine.
Tariere,Fr.Likewise signifies a miner’s tool with which he bores into the earth. It is used to force a lighted match into the chamber of a countermine, and to make it explode.
TARPAULINGS, are made of strong canvas, thoroughly tarred and cut into different sizes, according to their several uses in the field; such as to cover the powder-waggons and tumbrels (carrying ammunition) from rain: each field-piece has likewise one to secure the ammunition-boxes.
To beTARRED. A cant word used among soldiers to signify the punishment which privates undergo among themselves, when they have been tried and sentenced by their own comrades.
TARTARES,Fr.A word used in the French army to distinguish officers’ servants and batmen from the soldiers that serve in the ranks.Tartarelikewise means a groom.
TARTARS, (Tartares,Fr.) Asiatics, whose principal arms are the bow and arrow, and sabre or pike. Some few have firelocks and pistols.
CalmucTARTARS. A free people inhabiting the borders of the Caspian Sea, and the banks of the river Wolga. They are under the immediate protection of Russia, and in consideration of the security they enjoy, they are obliged to serve when called upon. They consist of wandering hordes, live in tents, and are armed with bows and arrows. Some have rifle guns, with one or two pistols. But they are extremely cruel, and worse disciplined than the Cossacks.
TARTES,Fr.Bogs.
TAS,Fr.A heap. When the works of a fortification are lined with turf and fascines, &c. small beds of earth are previously prepared and laid one over another, till the necessary thickness is obtained; when completed it is calledTas de gazonoude placage. A heap of turf or aplacage, which see.Tasis likewise used in a sense of contempt to signify a croud—Un tas de fainéans. A heap or croud of parasites.
UnTasde mensonges. A heap of lies.
TASA,Ind.A kind of drum, formed from a semisphere of copper, hollowed out and covered with goat skin. It is hung before from the shoulders, and beat with two rattans.
TASde charge,Fr.An arch made in a particular manner. It is generally found in Gothic buildings.
TASSEAU,Fr.A small anvil. It likewise signifies a bracket.
TASSES. Armor for the thighs, so called.
TASSETTE,Fr.A tass in armor.
TATTEE,Ind.A bamboo frame; which encloses an herb called jawassea or kuskus. Frames of this sort are made to put to the different openings of a room; they are shaped like a sash, and one being laid on a floor and covered with the kuskus grass, the other is laid upon it, and the two are tied together at the angles, which correspond with the panes; by throwing water against them, the hottest wind in passing through becomes cool, and the air is made fragrant by the kuskus.
TAUGOUR,Fr.A small lever which is used for various purposes.
TAUPINS,Francs-Taupins,Fr.A name which was formerly given to a body of free-archers, or Francs-archers, in France. This body consisting chiefly of countrymen and rustics, they were probably so called fromtaupe, a mole; of which there are great quantities in the fields. Taupin likewise signifies swarthy.
TAX. A tribute or duty rated on land, &c.
TE,Fr.A term used among miners to express a figure which greatly resembles the letter T, and which consists of a certain arrangement and disposition of the furnaces, chambers, or lodgments that are made under any particular part of a fortification, in order to blow it up. The Té has four lodgments; the double Té has eight; and the triple Té has twelve.
TECHNICAL, (Technique,Fr.) All terms, or words which have been invented for the purpose of expressing particular arts, are calledtechnical.
MotsTechniques,Fr.Technical words.
TEDEUM. As far as it concernsmilitary matters, is a religious hymn sung in thanksgiving for any victory obtained.
TEEP,Ind.A contract or note of hand.
TEFTERDAREffendi. The commissary general is so called among the Turks.
TEINT,Teinte,Fr.In painting, an artificial or compound color, or the several colors which are used in a picture, considered as more or less, high or bright, or deep or thin, or weakened, &c.; to give the proper relievo, or softness, or distance, &c. of several objects.
Teint,which is used to draw a plan,Teinte dont on se sert pour lever un plan,Fr.Teint, in a general acceptation of the word, means any shade that is given to an object which is raised from the canvas, paper, &c. and placed in perspective.
TELAMONES. A term used in ancient architecture, to express the figures of men supporting entablatures, and other projections, the same asCariatides.
TELESCOPE, (Télescope,Fr.) An optical instrument, composed of lenses, by means of which remote objects appear as if near at hand. The telescope was invented by Galilæo.
TELINGHI,Ind.The mountaineers on the Coromandel coast are denominatedTelinghis; which is also the name of their nation, language or dialect.
ToTelloff. A term used in military formations, to designate the relative proportions of any given body of men. Thus a battalion may be told off into wings, grand divisions, divisions, companies, platoons, half platoons, sub-divisions, and sections. It is the peculiar duty of every adjutant, and serjeant major to be particularly expert at telling off. Squadrons of horse are told off by half squadrons, divisions, sub-divisions, ranks of threes, and files right and left. But all troops, whether infantry or cavalry, should be accustomed totell themselvesoff; that is to move off at the word ofcommand, without delaying to betold off. The skilful officer will understand this, the unskilful cannot.
TEMOIN,Fr.A witness. It likewise signifies the second in a duel.
Temoins,Fr.In civil and military architecture, are pieces of earth left standing as marks or witnesses in the fosses of places which the workmen are emptying, that they may know exactly how many cubical fathoms of earth have been carried.
TEMPER. A state of steel or other metal, that best fits it for the use to which it is to be applied. Thus, the blade of a sword should be so tempered as to admit of considerable flexure without breaking, yet so elastic as to return to its shape, on the pressure being removed.
ToTemper. In a military sense, to form metals to a proper degree of hardness.
TEMPEST, (Tempête,Fr.) According to Dr. Johnson, the utmost violence of the wind: the names by which the wind is called according to the gradual increase of its force seem to be, a breeze; a gust; a gale; a storm; a tempest.
TENABLE, (Tenable,Fr.) Such as may be maintained against opposition; such as may be held against attacks.
TENAILLE,Fr.(This word literally meansshears.) A military evolution which was performed in the times of the ancients.
A phalanx, attacked by a lozenge or triangular wedge, bent its right and left forward by a half-quarter wheel each wing on their common centre; and when they found themselves opposite the sides of the enemy’s arrangement, they each marched on their own side, perpendicular to their line; by which means they both inclosed and attacked the enemy together, at the same time, while the head was engaged and at blows with the centre of the phalanx that had kept its ground. Such is the description authors have left us of the design and effects of this manœuvre.
The tenaille had considerable advantage over the triangular wedge; but, according to Chevalier Folard, it was not equally efficacious against the column. The latter could alter the direction of its march, and fall upon one of the wings, whether in motion or not, or detach the section of the tail or rear to take its wings in flank, while it was occupied in making the quarter conversion. The column andtenaillewere formed for acting against each other, and could only be victorious over one another by the superior abilities of their commander. However, the column was always exposed to less danger than thetenaille, for the latter could not pursue the column without changing its order; whereas the column must destroy, and in a manner annihilate thetenaille, in case it should once break it.
The tenaille is unquestionably an excellent manœuvre, and strictly conformable to a very wise maxim, which directs us to multiply our strength and efforts as much as possible against one point. It is sometimes made use of in war without being sensible of its advantages; turning a flank with a longer line, is in fact thetenaille. This, however, does not hinder the manœuvre from being well performed; for the nature of ground not being level like a sheet of paper, the commander in ranging his troops, according to the advantages of the situation, does not form a perfecttenaille, such as may be drawn or sketched out, but one of an irregular kind, which produces the same effects; and this is what should be sought on all occasions. This order is also called apotence.
Tenailles, in fortification, are low works made in the ditch before the curtains. There are three sorts: viz. the first are the faces of the bastions produced till they meet, but much lower; the second have faces, flanks, and a curtain; and the third have only faces and flanks.
SingleTenaille, (Tenaille simple,Fr.) is a work whose front is advanced towards the country, having two faces, forming a re-entering angle: its two long sides terminate on the counterscarp, opposite to the angle of the shoulder.
DoubleTenaille(Tenaille double, ou flanquée,Fr.) is a work whose front, having 4 faces, forms 2 re-entering, and 3 salient angles: its long sides are likewise parallel, and terminate on the counterscarp, opposite to the angle of the shoulder. Both the single and double tenailles have this fault, viz. that they are not flanked or defended at the re-entering angle, because the height of the parapet hinders the soldiers from discovering before that angle. Therefore tenailles should only be made when there is not room enough to make horn-works. The ramparts, parapets, ditches, covert-way, and glacis of tenailles, are the same with other out-works.
Tenailleof a place, is what is comprehended between the points of two neighboring bastions; as the faces, flanks, and curtains. Hence it is said, the enemy attacked the whole tenaille of a place, when they made two attacks on the faces of the two bastions.
Tenailles,Fr.Pincers, nippers, sheers, tenails.
TENAILLER,Fr.To tear off the flesh with red hot pincers. This punishment existed in civilized Europe, until the French revolution.
TENAILLON,Fr.This is sometimes called among the Frenchgrande lunette. It is a work composed of two parts, each of which covers the faces of the half-moon; in whose front the tenaillon is constructed.
UnTenaillon,Fr.A little tenaille. SeeFortification.
TENDELET,Fr.An awning; suchas is used on board of ship, and over carriages, in hot countries.
TENDRE,Fr.To stretch; to spread. This word has various significations in the French language. In military matters, it is common to say,
Tendreun piège à quelqu’un,Fr.To lay a snare for any body.
Tendreune marquise,une tente,Fr.To pitch a marquee, a tent.
TENIR,Fr.To hold, to keep, &c.
Tenirtête à quelqu’un,Fr.To cope with any body.
SeTENIR,Fr.To remain; to stay; to hold fast.
SeTENIRbien à cheval,Fr.To sit well on horseback, to have a good seat.
TENON, (Tenon,Fr.) Any thing that holds or keeps fast; that part of a frame work which is cut to fit a mortise.
Tenond’arquebuse,Fr.Loop of a gun.
TENT, (Tente,Fr.) This word is originally derived from the Latintendo, I stretch; whencetendre, to stretch. A soldier’s moveable lodging place, commonly made of canvas, and extended upon poles.
The sizes of the officers tents are not fixed; some regiments have them of one size, and some another. A captain’s tent and marquee should be 10¹⁄₂ feet broad, 14 deep, and 8 high: those of the subalterns are a foot less: the major’s and lieutenant-colonel’s, a foot larger; and the colonel’s 2 feet larger.
The subalterns lie two in a tent, those of engineers but one.
The tents of private men should be 6¹⁄₂ feet square, 6 feet high, and hold 5 soldiers each.
The tents for the horse seven feet broad, and 9 feet deep: they hold likewise 5 men and their horse accoutrements.
Common InfantryTent. Length of ridge pole is 7 feet; length of standards 6 feet. They hold only 5 men each. Weight complete 27 lbs. Great alterations have taken place in tents since the French revolution.
BellTent. This was the name of a small tent that was formerly in use, also called a tent of arms, being used only for holding arms in the front of the line; the use of it is now exploded; and the form being given to those now used for infantry or cavalry; weight, complete with poles, 43 lbs. length of pole 9 feet, contain 12 men each, require 40 pegs.
Marquee.Weight complete, 1 cwt. 17 lbs. ridge pole 9 feet; standard 8 feet.
RoundTent. A circular tent which contains 12 men; the weight complete, with poles, 43 lbs. Length of pole 10 feet.
HospitalTent. A large commodious tent, which is appropriated for the sick. It sometimes happens, that when a contagious disorder breaks out in a camp, or in barracks, the persons infected are removed from the hospital and lodged in a tent, which is pitched for that purpose in the neighborhood. It is usual for the commanding officer of the regiment to order one or more sentries to be furnished to the regimental hospital, and the same to the hospital tent, which sentries are directed to permit no person to enter but those concerned in the hospital, the staffs and officers of the regiment. They are to be particularly careful in preventing liquor, or any thing improper, from being carried into the hospital; nor are they to permit any patient to go out (to the necessary excepted) without a ticket of leave from the attending surgeon.
LaboratoryTent, in artillery, a large tent which is sometimes carried to the field for the convenience of fire-workers and bombardiers. The weight complete, with poles, pins, &c. 3 cwt. 24 lbs. length of ridge pole 18 feet, length of poles 14¹⁄₂ feet.
Tentbedstead. A small portable bedstead, so contrived as to correspond with the shape of an officer’s tent.
Tent-Pins, pieces of wood, which are indented at the top, and made sharp at the bottom, to keep the cords of a tent or marquee firm to the earth. There are four large ones which serve for the weather cords.
Tent-Poles. The poles upon which a tent or marquee is supported.
Tentwalls. SeeWall.
Tentlikewise means lint to put in a wound.
TENTED. Having tents pitched on it. Hence “the tented field.”
TERRAIN,Fr.This word is sometimes writtenterrein, and signifies, generally, any space or extent of ground.
Gagner duTERRAINpeu-à-peu,Fr.To gain ground little by little.
Perdre duTERRAIN,Fr.To lose ground.
Menager sonTERRAIN,Fr.To make the most of your ground. It is likewise used in a figurative sense, viz.Un homme est fort quand il est sur son terrain,Fr.A man always speaks with great confidence when he is thoroughly master of the subject.
Terraindu camp,Fr.The ground within the lines of encampment.
Lever leTerrain,Fr.To reconnoitre, to take a survey of ground.
Chicaner leTerrain,Fr.To dispute the ground; to fight it inch by inch.
Tenir un grandTerrain,Fr.To take up much ground.
TERRASS. SeeMortar.
TERRASSE,Fr.Terrace, platform.
Contre-TERRASSE,Fr.A terrace that is raised above another.
TERRASSER,Fr.To throw down, to rout completely.
TERRASSIER,Fr.This word is used among the French not only to signify the person who undertakes to see heaps of earth removed, &c. for any specificpurpose, but likewise the man who actually carries it.
TERRE,laTERRE,Fr.Earth, the earth.
TERRE-PLEIN,Fr.SeeFortification.
TERRER,se Terrer,Fr.To hide under ground. The French say,des gens de guerre se sont bien terres; meaning thereby, that they had thrown up entrenchments with earth, so as to be covered from the enemy’s fire.Terrer une artifice, to cover the head of any fire-work with earth.
TERRES-Amendees,Fr.Earths that have been used in the cleansing of saltpetre. Saltpetre-men call these earthsTerres reanimees.
TERREUR,Fr.Fear, apprehension.
TERREURpanique,Fr.SeePanic.
TERTIATE, in gunnery, is to examine the thickness of the metal of a piece of artillery, in order to judge of its strength. This is usually done with a pair of calliper compasses.
TERTIATINGa piece of ordnance, is to find whether it has its due thickness, at the vent, trunnions, and neck; if the trunnions and neck are in their due order, and the chase straight, &c.
TERTRE,Fr.A small rising ground that stands unconnected with any other.
TESSONS,Fr.Potsherds.
TESTAMENTMilitaire,Fr.Among the French, a will which is made in the presence of two witnesses only, and is not committed to paper.
TESTIMONY. Verbal declaration given upon oath or honor before any court martial. The testimony of a witness should neither be influenced nor interrupted, and the precise words used by him should be written down in the proceedings without any alteration.
TESTUDO, in the military art of the ancients, was a kind of cover or screen, which the soldiers of each company made themselves of their bucklers, by holding them up over their heads, and standing close to each other. This expedient served to shelter them from darts, stones, &c. thrown upon them, especially those from above, when they went to the assault.
Testudo, was also a kind of large wooden tower, which moved on several wheels, and was covered with bullocks’ hides: it served to shelter the soldiers when they approached the walls to mine them, or to batter them with rams.
TETE,Fr.Head.
Tetedu Camp,Fr.The head of the camp, or the front ground which looks towards the country; and where troops bivouac.
TETEde la Sappe,Fr.Head of the sap.
Tetede Chevalement,Fr.A cross beam which lies upon two upright stays, and supports any part of a wall, &c. whilst it is in repair.
Faire (ou tenir)Teteà quelqu’un,Fr.To oppose a person; to keep him at bay.
Avoir quelqu’un en tête,Fr.To have any person opposed to one, viz.Turenne avoit en Tête Montecuculli; Turenne was opposed by Montecuculli.
Tetes,Fr.In the plural number, are the same as men or lives, viz.La prise d’une place a coute bien des Tetes. The reduction or taking of a place has cost many lives or men.
Avoir la Tete de tout,Fr.To be the most advanced.
Tetede Pont,Fr.That part of a bridge which is on the enemy’s side. When the bridge is fortified on both sides, the French say,Les deux tetes de pont.
Tetede Porc,Fr.This word means literally a hog’s head. It is used to denote a military arrangement of the triangular kind. Those mentioned under the termwedge, were composed of ranks, greater one than another, in a regular progression from the incisive angle to the base. The tete de porc was formed of small bodies ranged in lines in the same sense, and in the same progression as the ranks in the preceding wedges; that is to say, a small body (probably square) was placed at the head, another of the same size was posted behind it, having two others, one on its right, the other on its left, both extending the full length of their front beyond the wings of the first. Behind those three, five others were ranged in the same order, and so on successively until all were placed.
This arrangement is equal to the former (viz. that of the wedge) with regard to defects; as to advantages it has but one only, which will never be of weight enough to gain it any degree of reputation; it is this, that being composed of small bodies, each having its leader or commander, all the different parts are more or less capable of defence should they be attacked at the time they are forming or dividing; and if the enemy attempted to form theTenaille, they might detach some of those small bodies to interrupt their motions, or to attack them in flank.
This disposition corresponds with the movement by echellons from the centre, or both wings thrown back; it is in the modern mode a most imposing and important disposition, where the force that uses it is inferior in number, and well disciplined to rapid evolution.
TETHER. A string by which horses are held from pasturing too wide. We say, figuratively, to go the length of one’s tether; to speak or act with as much freedom as circumstances will admit.
TETRAEDRON, (Tetraëdre,Fr.) In geometry, one of the five regular bodies. It is a pyramid which is terminated by four equilateral triangles, that are equal to each other; in the same manner that the tetragon is a recontilineal figure of four equal sides, which has four right angles.
TETRAGONAL. Square, having equal sides and angles.
TETRARCH. A Roman governor of the fourth part of a province.
TEUTONIC, (Teutonique,Fr.) SeeOrders.
TEVEEL,Ind.The treasury.
TEVEELDAR,Ind.The treasurer.
THANE. An ancient military title of honor, now obsolete.
ToTHANK. In military matters, to make honorable mention of a person or persons for having behaved gallantly in an action, or otherwise rendered a public service.
To beThanked. To receive a public testimony of good conduct. Officers, &c. are generally thanked in public orders.
Thanks.Public acknowlegements for gallant actions.
Vote ofThanks. It has been customary in all civilized countries for the legislature to pay a public tribute of applause to those warriors who have fought their country’s battles with success, and have otherwise distinguished themselves by particular feats of gallantry and good conduct. The French, during the progress of their revolution, have had frequent recourse to this mode of adding new zeal and fresh courage to their armies, and of expressing national gratitude.
THEATREof war. Any extent of country in which war is carried on may be so called. The French sayThéatre de la guerre. It signifies the same with us as seat of war. According to Turpin, page 21, in his essay on the Art of War, there are but three sorts of countries which may become the theatre of war; an open country divided by rivers, a woody, or a mountainous one. The dispositions for a march must of course be varied as the situation of places differ.
THEODOLITE. A mathematical instrument useful to engineers and artillerists, in taking heights and distances.
THEOREM, (Théoreme,Fr.) In mathematics, a proposition which is purely speculative and tends to the discovery of some hidden truth.
An universalTheorem, in mathematics, is one that extends universally to any quantity without restriction; as that the rectangle of the sum, and difference of any two quantities, is equal to the difference of their squares.
A particularTheoremis when it extends only to a particular quantity.
A negativeTheoremis one that demonstrates the impossibilities of an assertion, as that the sum of two biquadrate numbers cannot make a square.
A localTheorem. That which relates to surface; as the triangles of the same base and altitude are equal.
THEORETICAL, (Théorique,Fr.) What appertains to theory.
THEORY, (Théorie,Fr.) The speculative part of any particular science, in which truths are demonstrated without being practically followed. Or more distinctly; a theory is an opinion formed in the mind, that certain effects must arise from certain combinations of matters or circumstances; the matters or circumstances being known, the result or consequence not yet demonstrated by experiment.
School ofTheory. In order to secure to the army intelligent and well informed officers, it has been wisely suggested, that there should be a school of military theory in each regiment. The persons selected for this purpose are to pass an examination before competent persons, whenever the vicinity of regimental quarters will allow them to attend.
Order ofMaria Theresa. A military order of knighthood, which was founded and established by the house of Austria on the 18th of June, 1757, and was distinguished by the name of the reigning queen and empress, being called the Imperial Military Order of Maria Theresa.
THERMES,Fr.Small barges or boats in which persons formerly bathed.
THERMOMETER, (Thermometre,Fr.) An instrument for measuring the heat of the air, or of any matter.
THERMOSCOPE, (Thermoscope,Fr.) An instrument by which the degrees of heat are discovered; a thermometer.
THIEF. Any person that robs another. The character of a thief is of so foul a cast in a military life, that the least imputation of dishonesty incapacitates either officer or soldier from remaining in the service.
Soldier’sTHIGH. A well-known part of the human frame which takes its peculiar military application from the notorious poverty of army men in general. Hence, Soldier’s Thigh figuratively means an empty purse, or, speaking familiarly, a pair of breeches that fit close and look smooth, because the pockets have nothing in them.
THILL. The shafts of a waggon; hence, the horse which goes between the shafts is called the thill horse, or thiller.
ToTHIN. To make less numerous. As to thin the ranks by a heavy discharge of ordnance and firearms.
THIRTEEN. A shilling is so called in Ireland; thirteen pence of that country’s currency being only equal to twelve pence English.
THREEDEEP. Soldiers drawn up in three ranks, consisting of front, centre, and rear, are said to bethree deep. It is the fundamental order of the infantry, in which they should always form and act in close order, and for which all their operations and movements are calculated.
THREES. A term used in the telling off in squadron, because the front of threehorses in rank, is equal to the length of one horse from head to tail.
Ranks by threes.Each half squadron is told off by threes. SeeCavalry,Mil. Library.
ToTHROW. To force any thing from one place to another; thus artillerists say, tothrowa shot or shell, or so many shot or shells were thrown.
THRUST. Hostile attack with any pointed weapon, as in fencing. When one party makes a push with his sword to wound his adversary with the point it is called a thrust.
THUMBSTALL. A piece of leather which every careful soldier carries with him to secure the lock of his musquet from moisture.
THUNDERING-legion, was a legion in the Roman army consisting of Christian soldiers, who, in the expedition of the emperor Marcus Aurelius against the Sarmatæ, Quadi, and Marcomanni, saved the whole army, then ready to perish from thirst, by procuring, by their prayers, a very plentiful shower thereon, and at the same time a furious storm of hail, mixed with lightning and thunderbolts, on the enemy.
This is the account commonly given by ecclesiastical historians, and the whole history is engraven in bass-relievos on the Antonine column.
TIDEGATE. SeeSluice-gate.
TIERCE. A thrust in fencing, delivered at the outside of the body over the arm.
TILE,-TYLE,
in military building, a sort of thin, factitious, laminated brick, used on the roofs of houses; or more property a kind of clayey earth, kneaded and moulded of a just thickness, dried and burnt in a kiln, like a brick, and used in the covering and paving of different kinds of military and other buildings. The best brick earth should only be made intotiles.
Thetilesfor all sorts of uses may now be comprised under 7 heads, viz. 1. Theplain-tile, for covering of houses, which is flat and thin. 2. Theplain-tile, for paving, which is also flat, but thicker; and its size 9, 10, or 12 inches. 3. Thepan-tile, which is also used for covering of buildings, and is hollow, and crooked, or bent, somewhat in the manner of an S. 4. TheDutch glazed pan-tile. 5. TheEnglish glazed pan-tile. 6. Thegutter-tile, which is made with a kind of wings. 7. Thehip,ridge, orcorner-tile.
Plain-Tiles, are best when they are firmest, soundest, and strongest. Some are duskier, and others ruddier, in color. The dusky-colored are generally the strongest. Thesetilesare not laid in mortar, but pointed only in the inside.
Paving-Tiles, are made of a more sandy earth than the common orplain-tiles: the materials for these last must be absolutely clay, but for the others a kind of loam is used. These are made thicker and larger than the commonroof-tiles; and, when care has been taken in the choice of the earth, and the management of the fire, they are very regular and beautiful.
Pan-Tiles, when of the best kind, are made of an earth not much unlike that of thepaving-tiles, and often of the same; but the best sort of all is a pale-colored loam that is less sandy; they have about the same degree of fire given them in the baking, and they come out nearly of the same color. Thesetilesare laid in mortar, because the roof being very flat, and many of them warped in the burning, will not cover the building so well as that no water can pass between them.
Dutch glazed Pan-Tiles, get the addition of glazing in the fire. Many kinds of earthly matter running into a glassy substance in great heat, is a great advantage to them, preserving them much longer than the commonpan-tiles, so that they are very well worth the additional charge that attends the using them.
English glazed Pan-Tiles, are in general not so good as the Dutch ones under that denomination; but the process is nearly the same.
DutchTiles, for chimnies, are of a kind very different from all the rest. They are made of a whitish earth, glazed and painted with various figures, such as birds, flowers, or landscapes, in blue or purple color; and sometimes quite white: they are about 6.5 inches each way, and three quarters or an inch thick. They are seldom used at present.
Gutter-Tiles, are made of the same earth as the commonpan-tiles, and only differ from them in shape; but it is adviseable that particular care be taken in tempering and working the earth for these, for none are more liable to accidents. The edges of thesetilesare turned up at the larger ends for about 4 inches. They are seldom used where lead is to be had.
HiporCorner-Tiles, are at first made flat likepan-tilesof a quadrangular figure, whose two sides are right lines, and the ends arches of circles; the upper end concave, and the lower convex; the latter being about 7 times as broad as the other: they are about 10.5 inches long; but before they are burnt are bent upon a mould in the form of aridge-tile, having a hole at the narrow end, to nail them on the hip corner of the roof.
Ridge-Tilesare used to cover the ridges of houses, and are made in the form of a semi-cylindrical surface, about 13 inches in length, and of the same thickness asplain-tiles; their breadth at the outside measures about 16 inches.
TILLAC,Fr.The same aspont, which signifies the deck of a ship.
Franc-TILLAC,Fr.The lower deck.
TILT, a thrust, or fight with rapiers; also an old military game. SeeTournament.
TILTER, one who fights or contests in a tournament.
TIMBALE,Fr.A brass kettle-drum, such as is used by European cavalry. French soldiers say figuratively,Faire bouillir la timbale; to make the pot boil.
TIMARIOT, a Turkish soldier who has a certain allowance made him, for which he is not only obliged to arm, clothe, and accoutre himself, but he must likewise provide a certain number of militia-men. The allowance is called Timar.
The Timariots are under the immediate command of the Sangiack or Bey, according to their particular distribution. When the Timariots belonging to Natolia, do not join the standard, they forfeit a whole year’s allowance, which is deposited in a chest or stock-purse calledmankafat. But the Timariots in Europe or Turkey, are not liable to this fine. When they refuse to serve, they are suspended for two years. The income of a Timariot amounts to five thousand aspres, and the Timariots of Hungary have six thousand. When an Hungarian Timariot dies, the Bashaw of Buda has the power of dividing his property into two parts, which is placed to the account of the Ottoman government, and enables it to pay two soldiers.
There are different classes among the Timariots. Some are calledIkmalers, someIsels, and othersBernobets.
TheIkmalersare in possession of that species of Timar which cannot be divided for the benefit of government after the decease of the individual.
TheIselsare subject to a division of property among two or three persons, at the will of the Porte.
TheBernobetsare in possession of that kind of Timar which may become the property of three or four individuals who serve together, or relieve each other alternately, on condition that the one who takes the field enjoys the whole benefit of the Timar during his stay with the army. There are many of this kind in Natolia. Every thing which appertains to the Turkish cavalry, known by the name of Topachly, and which is regularly clothed, armed, accoutred, and paid by certain officers, belonging to the Ottoman empire, out of revenues called maly-mukata, may be ascertained and known under the several appellations ofTimariots,Zaims,Begliers, andBeglierbeys.
TIMARS, certain revenues, in Turkey, growing out of lands which originally belonged to Christian clergy and nobility, and which the sultans seized, when they conquered the countries they inhabited.
By means of theseTimarsandZiametsthe Grand Signor is enabled to support the greatest part of his cavalry.
The Timars differ in value. The richest, however, do not exceed twenty thousand aspres annually, which may be considered as equal to about three hundred and fifty dollars; and theZiametsreceive full as much. Those who are entitled toTimars, are calledTimariots, and those who haveZiametsare namedZaims.
TIMBER, in military architecture, includes all kinds of felled and seasoned wood used in the several parts of building, &c.
Oak, of all the different kinds of timber known for building, is preferred by the European nations; because, when well seasoned and dry, it is very tough and hard: it does not split so easy as other timber, and bears a much greater weight than any other. When it is used under cover, it never perishes, no more than in water; on the contrary, the older it grows the harder it becomes; and when it is exposed to the weather, it exceeds all other timbers for durability. English oak is said to be the best, American the next, then Norway, and lastly Germany. But there are various kinds of American oaks.
Elm, if felled between November and February, is all spine, or heart, and no sap, and is of singular use in places where it is always wet or dry. It is very tough and pliable; it is easily worked, and does not readily split: it bears driving of bolts and nails into it better than any other wood; for which reason it is prepared for artillery uses.
Beechis likewise a very useful wood; it is very tough and white when young, and of great strength, but liable to warp very much when exposed to the weather, and to be worm eaten when used within doors. It is frequently used for axle-trees, fellies, and all kinds of wheelwright work: but where it is kept constantly wet, and free from air, it will outlast oak.
Ash.Its use is almost universal. It serves in buildings, or for any other uses where it is skreened from the weather: hand-spikes and oars are chiefly made of it; and indeed it is the wood that is most fit for this, or any other purpose, which requires toughness and pliability.
Fir, commonly known by the name of pine is much used in building, especially within doors. It wants but little seasoning, and is much stronger while the resinous particles are not exhausted, than when it is very dry: it will last long under water.
Chesnut-tree, especially wild chesnut, is by many esteemed to be as good as oak.
But the best of all timber for shipbuilding is theTeakof Asia; it endures water four times as long as oak, is much more easily wrought; iron spikes drove into it do not rust.
There are many other kinds of wood, used in military works, not mentioned here.
Preserving ofTIMBER. When boards, &c. are dried, seasoned, and fixed in their places, care is to be taken to defend and preserve them: to which the smearingthem with linseed oil, tar, or the like oleaginous matter, contributes much.
The Dutch preserve their gates, portcullices, draw-bridges, sluices, &c. by coating them over with a mixture of pitch and tar, whereon they strew small pieces of cockle and other shells, beaten almost to powder, and mixed with sea sand, which incrusts and arms it wonderfully against wind and weather.
Seasoning ofTIMBER. As soon as felled, it should be laid in some dry airy place, but out of reach of too much wind or sun, which, in excess, will subject it to crack and fly. It is not to be set upright, but laid along, one tree upon another, only with some short blocks between, to give it the better airing, and prevent it becoming mouldy, which will rot the surface and produce mushrooms on it. Some persons daub the trees all over with cow-dung, which occasions their drying equally, and prevents their cracking, as they are otherwise very apt to do.
Some recommend the burying timber in the earth, as the best method of seasoning it; and others have found it a fine preservative to bury their timber under the wheat in their granaries; but this cannot be made a general practice. In Norway they season their deal planks, by laying them in salt water for three or four days, when new sawed, and drying them in the sun: this is found a great advantage to them; but neither this, nor any thing else, can prevent their shrinking.
Timber should always be seasoned, when it is intended for piles and other pieces that are to stand under the earth or water. The Venetians first found out this method; and the way they do it is this: they put the piece to be seasoned in a strong and violent flame, turning it continually round by means of an engine, taking it out when it is every where covered with a black coaly crust: by this means the internal part of the wood is so hardened, that neither earth nor water can damage it for a long time after.
TIME. The measure of duration, by which soldiers regulate the cadence of a march: asslow,ordinary, orquick, andquickesttime or step,which see.
Time, in manœuvring. That necessary interval betwixt each motion in the manual exercise, as well as in every movement the army or any body of men make.
Time, in fencing. There are three kinds of time; that of the sword, that of the foot, and that of the whole body. All the times that are perceived out of their measure, are only to be considered as appels or feints to deceive and amuse the enemy.
Timethrust, in fencing. A thrust given upon any opening which may occur by an inaccurate or wide motion of your adversary, when changing his guard, &c.
TIMING, is the accurate and critical throwing in of a cut or thrust upon any opening that may occur as your adversary changes his position.
TIMON,Fr.Shafts of a cart, coach-pole.
TIMONIER,Fr.This word is frequently used as a sea term by the French, and signifies helmsman, or steersman, fromTimon, which is applied to the part of the helm he holds.
TINtubes. SeeTubesandLaboratory.
TINDALS,Ind.Native officers employed in the artillery, and in ships.
TIR,Fr.In artillery. A term used to express the explosion or discharge of any firearm in any given direction.Un bon, un mauvais tir, a good, a bad shot; or a shot well or ill directed.
La theorie duTIR,Fr.The theory or art of firing.
Tirperpendiculaire,Fr.A shot made in a perpendicular direction.
Tiroblique,Fr.An oblique shot.
Tirà ricochet,Fr.A ricochet shot.
Tirrasant,Fr.A grazing shot; or shot maderasant. SeeFortification.
Tirplongeant,Fr.A downward or plunging shot.
Tirfichant,Fr.A shot madefichant. SeeFortification.
La justesse duTIR,Fr.The true direction of a shot. The French say,ce fusil n’a pas le tir juste, this musquet has not a true direction, or its shot diverges from the point levelled at.
TIRAILLER,Fr.To pester, to annoy. Hence the wordTirailleur.
TIRAILLEUR. A soldier who fires as he pleases; arifleman.
Tirailleursare likewise skirmishers or marksmen, advanced in front to annoy the enemy, and draw off his attention; or they are left behind to amuse and stop his progress in the pursuit; a column of infantry is often ordered to act as tirailleurs.
TIRE, are great guns, shot, shells, &c. placed in a regular form. SeePiles.
Tire-balle,Fr.An instrument used by surgeons to extract musquet-balls.
Tire-bourre,Fr.In artillery, a wad-hook. It likewise signifies a worm to draw the charge out of a musquet.
Tire-fond,Fr.An instrument which is used among the French to fix a petard. It likewise means a surgeon’s tenebra or piercer.
Tireligne,Fr.An instrument used in drawing lines.
Tire-ployer,Fr.To discharge; to unload.
TIRER,Fr.To shoot, to fire.
Tirerà boulets rouges,Fr.To fire with red hot shot.
Tirerdes armes à feu. To fire any species of firearm. There is a curious and well written passage on this subject in theSupplement aux reveries de M. le Maréchal de Saxe, page 76.
Tirerle canon,Fr.To fire or discharge pieces of ordnance.
Tirerlikewise means to move towards any place, viz.Après la battaille gagnee, l’armee tira vers un tel lieu; after the battle had been won, the army moved towards such a quarter.
Tirerdix ou douze pieds d’eau,Fr.To draw ten or twelve feet water.
Tirerà la mer,Fr.To put off to sea.
TIREUR,Fr.A game keeper, a shooter.
Tireurd’arc,Fr.A bowman, an archer.
Tireurd’armes,Fr.A fencing-master.
TYROLIANS. A body of sharp shooters in the Austrian service. They take their name from the Tyrol, a country formerly belonging to Germany, about 150 miles long, and 120 broad. It is wholly mountainous, and was part of the hereditary dominions of the house of Austria; but having been twice conquered by the French, part has been irrevocably ceded to Bavaria in 1809, the rest is incorporated with the kingdom of Italy.
TOCSIN,Fr.An alarm bell.
TOHIE,Ind.A canoe.
TOISE, in military mensuration, is a French measure, containing 6 feet, or a fathom: a square toise is 36 square feet, and a cubical toise is 216 feet.
These two measures correspond in the division of the feet; but these divisions being unequal, it is necessary to observe, that the proportion of the yard, as fixed by the Royal Society at London, to the half toise as fixed by the Royal Academy at Paris, is as 36 to 38.355.
Toisecarree,Fr.Any square extent, having six feet in every sense.
Toisecube,Fr.Any substance having 6 feet in length, 6 ditto in breadth, and 6 in depth.
Toise,Fr.This word is used in the masculine gender, and signifies, in mathematics, the science or art of measuring surfaces and solids, and of reducing the measure by accurate calculation.
Une affaireTOISEE,Fr.A familiar phrase signifying, the thing is done, all over.
TOISER,Fr.To measure by the toise.
Toiser,Fr.In a military sense, to take the height of a man, as,toiser un soldat, to take the height of a soldier. The French likewise say in a figurative sense,toiser son homme, to examine one’s man with great attention, in order to find out his merits, or good qualities.
TOISEUR,Fr.A person employed among the French in the constructing and repairing of fortifications.
Toiseur,Fr.A measurer.
TOISONd’or.Fr.The golden fleece.
LaToison,Fr.The order of the Golden Fleece is so called.
TOKERY,Ind.A basket made with cane.
TOLE,Fr.Iron beat into thin plates.
TOMAN,Ind.Ten thousand men.
TOMAND,Ind.Equal to something more than three guineas.
TOMBER,Fr.To fall.Le vent tombe, the wind falls.Tomber entre les mains des ennemis, to fall into the hands of enemies.
TOMBIE,Ind.A wind instrument made in the shape of a globe.
TOMPION. SeeTampion.
TAMSOOKHazin Zaminee,Ind.A security for personal appearance.
TOMTOM,Ind.A small drum made in the shape of a tambourine.
TONDIN,Fr.A term in architecture which is seldom used. It is the same as the astragal or fillet which goes round the base of pillars.
TONG. SeeTenaille.
Tongsof a waggon, a piece of wood fixed between the middle of the hind ends of the shafts, mortised into the fore cross-bar, and let into the hind cross-bar.
TONGUEof a sword. That part of the blade on which the gripe, shell, and pummel are fixed.
A triangularTONGUE. The bayonet figuratively so called from its shape.
TONNAGE,Fr.A word adopted from the English.
TONNAGE. A custom or impost due for merchandize brought or carried in tons from or to other nations after a certain rate in every ton.
Tonnage.The usual method of finding the tonnage of any ship is by the following rule:—Multiply the length of the keel by the breadth of the beam, and that product by half the breadth of the beam; and divide the last product by 94, and the quotient will be the tonnage.
Ship’s keel 72 feet: breadth of beam 24 feet.
72 × 24 × 1294= 220·6 tonnage.
The tonnage of goods and stores is taken sometimes by weight and sometimes by measurement; and that method is allowed to the vessel which yields the most tonnage. In tonnage by weight 20 cwt. make 1 ton. In tonnage by measurement 40 cubic feet equal 1 ton. All carriages, or other stores to be measured for tonnage, are taken to pieces and packed in the manner which will occupy the least room on board ship. All ordnance, whether brass or iron, is taken in tonnage by its actual weight. Musquet cartridges in barrels or boxes, all ammunition in boxes, and other articles of great weight, are taken in tonnage according to their actual weight.
The following is the tonnage required for some of the most material ordnance stores by the British usage.
TONNAGE OF ORDNANCE.