P. (continued 2)

PENTANGLE, A figure having five angles.

PENTANGULAR. See Pentagon.

PENTAPOLIS, in geography, a country consisting of five cities. This name was given, particularly, to the valley wherein stood the five infamous cities destroyed by fire and brimstone in Abraham’s time. The most celebrated Pentapolis was the Pentapolis Cyrenica in Egypt, whose cities were Berenice, Arsinoe, Ptolemais, Cyrene, and Apollonia

PENTASPAST, (Pentapaste, Fr.) An engine that has five pullies.

PENTATHLON. The five exercises performed in the Grecian games, viz. leaping, running, quoiting, darting, and wrestling.

PENTHOUSE, a shed hanging forward in a sloping direction from the main wall of a place.

PEONS, Ind. municipal foot soldiers. These men are chiefly employed to assist in collecting the revenues, and carry a pike or staff. Most persons in India keep servants, who wear a belt with the master’s name. These are likewise called Peadahs.

PEOPLE, of color. Blacks, Mulattoes, so called. They form part of the British territorial army, and are distributed, in corps, among the West India islands.

PERAMBULATOR. See Pedometer.

PERCH, in mensuration, is ten feet long. See Measure.

PERCUSSION. The impression which a body makes in falling or striking upon another, or the shock of two moving bodies. It is either direct or oblique.

Direct Percussion, is where the impulse is given in the direction of a right line perpendicular to the point of contact.

Oblique Percussion. When it is given in the direction of a line oblique to the point of contact.

Centre of Percussion. That point wherein the shock of the percutient bodies is the greatest.

PERCUTIENT, striking against or upon.

PERDU, a word adopted from the French, signifying to lie flat and closely in wait. It likewise means the forlorn hope.

A corps Perdu, Fr. Desperately.

A coup Perdu, Fr. At random.

Coup Perdu, Fr. Random shot.

PEREMPTORY. Whatever is absolute and final, not to be altered, renewed, or restrained. Peremptory execution, what takes place immediately.

PERE, Ind. See Peer.

PERFIDIOUS. Treacherous, false to trust, guilty of violated faith. Hence a perfidious foe. War, however melancholy in its effects, and frequently unjustifiable in its cause and progress, is nevertheless, among civilized nations, so far governed by certain principles of honor, as to render the observance of established laws and customs an object of general acquiescence. When two or more countries are engaged in a hostile contest, whatever belligerent party grossly deviates from those rules, is deservedly stamped with infamy, and justly called “a perfidious foe.”

Perfidiously, treacherously, falsely, without faith.

Perfidy, want of faith, treachery.

PERGUNNA, Ind. A district.

PERIMETER, in geometry, the extent that bounds any figure or body. The perimeters of figures or surfaces, are lines; those of bodies are surfaces. In circular figures, &c. we use circumference or periphery instead of perimeter.

PERIOD. This word is frequently used in military accounts to express the intermediate time for which money has been issued to officers and soldiers.

Broken Period, a term used in the returns and financial statements of the British army, when the regular distribution of pay is interrupted, or the effective force is lessened by the absence of one or more individuals, or by any other cause. A correct and faithful statement of broken periods is essentially necessary in every well regulated regiment, as not only the service but the public purse may be materially injured by the neglect, or embezzlement of individuals. Adjutants and pay-masters cannot be too scrupulously minute on this important head.

PERIPHERY, the circumference—as of a circle.

PERISTYLE, a circular range of pillars for the support or ornament of any building, &c. used in the ancient amphitheatres.

PERKERNUCKA, Ind. Petty officers are so called in India.

PERMANENT Fortification, is defined to be the art of fortifying towns, &c. so as to resist the attacks of an enemy, that makes regular approaches.

PERMANENT rank, a rank in the army, which does not cease with any particular service, or locality of circumstances; in opposition to local or temporary rank. See Rank.

PERPENDICULAR, (Perpendiculaire, Fr.) According to Vauban’s system, it is a line raised in a perpendicular direction on the centre of the exterior side of any given polygon. In mean fortification, which prevails more than any other system, the perpendicular contains 30 toises in the exagon, and in polygons that have a greater number of sides; but it contains fewer when the polygons have a less number. The perpendicular is used by this engineer to determine the other lines and angles belonging to a fortification. In proportion as the perpendicular is increased, the extent of the flanks is augmented.

Perpendicular fortification, is that in which all the component parts flank each other at straight angles. Pagan, and other engineers, made the flanks perpendicular to the lines of defence. This is also the denomination of the improved system of Montalembert, which has superceded in a great measure all others; the distinction between this and the old, would require a treatise to exemplify it.

Perpendicular, (Perpendiculaire, Fr.) When any star is vertical, it is said, in astronomy, to be perpendicular, because its beams fall directly upon us.

Perpendicular, in geometry, when any right line is perpendicular to all the lines it meets with in a plane, it is said to be perpendicular to that plane.

Perpendicular direction, in marching, is the regular and straight progress of one or more men over given points. Without the strictest attention is paid to this essential principal in all movements, the greatest irregularity, and, ultimately, the greatest confusion must ensue. Perpendicular and parallel movements, constitute, indeed, the whole system of good marching. When several columns, divisions, or companies, advance, the different pivots must be strictly perpendicular and parallel to each other, otherwise the distance will be lost, and the ultimate object of forming a correct line must be defeated.

PERPETUAL screw, a screw which is acted upon by the teeth of a wheel, and which continues its action for an indefinite length of time; or so long as the teeth of the wheel continue to act upon it.

PERQUISITES, all manner of profits arising from an office or place, independent of the actual salary or revenue. In a military sense no perquisites, advantages, or emoluments are allowed to persons in responsible situations.

PERSIAN Language, Ind. There are two sorts; the ancient, called Zebane-Pehlavy; the modern, called Zebaunedery.

PERSPECTIVE, is the art of drawing the resemblances or pictures of objects on a plane surface, as the objects themselves appear to the eye, &c.

PERSPECTIVE Elevation. See Scenography.

PERUST, Ind. A small weight or measure, equal to four koodups or puls.

PERWANNA, Ind. An order, warrant, or letter, signed by a Nawaub or Nabob, a passport; a custom-house permit, as in the case of the Neyau and vizier.

PESHWA, or PAISHWA, Ind. Prime minister; the acting head of the Mahrattah states. Paishwa became the title of a sovereign, the head of the Mahrattahs.

PESTLE, an instrument used in the fabrication of gunpowder. See Gunpowder Mill.

PETARDEAUX, Fr. Pieces of wood, covered with wool and pitch, which are used to stop the holes that are made in the sides of a ship by cannonball, during an engagement.

PETARD, or PETARDO, an engine to burst open the gates of small fortresses: it is made of gun-metal, fixed upon a board two inches thick, and about 2¹⁄₂ feet square, to which it is screwed, and holds from 9 to 20 pounds of powder, with a hole at the end opposite to the plank to fill it, into which the vent is screwed: the petard thus prepared is hung against the gate by means of a hook, or supported by three staves fastened to the plank: when fired it bursts open the gate. Its invention is ascribed to the French Huguenots in 1579, who, with them, took Cahors in the same year.

Petards are of four different sizes: the first contains 12lbs. 13oz. second 10lbs. 11oz. third 1lb. 10oz. fourth 1lb. The blind fuze composition for them is of mealed powder, 7lb. wood ashes 3oz.

Stores for one Petard.

Hooks to hang the petard 2

Gimblets 2

Brass fuze 1

Wrench to screw the fuze 1

Blue paper portfires 6

Slow match yards 4

Props or forks 2

Copper funnels 1

Tallow ounces 8

Cartridges 1

PETARDER, Fr.. to fire petards.

PETARDIER. The man who loads, fixes, and fires the petard. It likewise signifies among the French, the man who makes or throws a petard.

PETEL, Ind.. The head of a village.

PETER, Fr.. in a military sense, to explode, to make a loud noise.

PETEROLLES, Fr.. Squibs, such as children make and use in the streets for their diversion.

PETITE-Guerre, Fr. See Guerre, for its definition.

Petite-Guerre, is carried on by a light party, commanded by an expert partisan, and which should be from 1000 to 2000 men, separated from the army, to secure the camp or cover a march; to reconnoitre the enemy or the country; to seize their posts, convoys, and escorts; to plant ambuscades, and to put in practice every stratagem for surprising or disturbing the enemy; which is called carrying on the Petite-guerre. The genius of these days, and the operations of the American war, have placed the service of such a corps in a most respectable light, as it is more fatiguing, more dangerous, and more desultory than any other.

To form a corps capable of carrying on the Petite-guerre to advantage, prudence requires that it should consist of 1000 men at least, without which a partisan cannot expect to support the fatigues of a campaign, and seize the most important occasions that every where offer, and which a too great inferiority must make him forego.

It is no less important that this corps should be composed of light infantry and cavalry; and as it is most incontestible that the cavalry should be the most active in carrying on the Petite-guerre, it were to be wished that they were likewise the strongest, so as to have 600 cavalry and 400 infantry in a corps of 1000 men, making four companies of light infantry, and twelve troops of cavalry. Each company of infantry to consist of 1 captain, 1 first and 2 second lieutenants, 6 serjeants, and 100 men, including 6 corporals, 4 lance-corporals, and 2 drummers. Each troop of cavalry to consist of 1 captain, 1 first and 1 second lieutenant, 1 ensign, a quarter-master, 6 serjeants, and 100 horsemen; including 6 corporals, a trumpeter and 2 farriers.

The commanding officer should have the naming of the officers of this corps, or at least the liberty to reject such as he is convinced are not qualified for such service. To support the honor of this corps upon a solid and respectable footing, the strictest subordination must extend from the chief to all the officers, and the most rigid discipline, vigilance, patience, bravery, and love of glory, ought to pervade the whole corps.

PETITION. See Memorial.

PETRE. See Nitre, Saltpetre.

PETRINAL, or Poitrinal, Fr. a species of firearms between the arquebus and the pistol, which was used among the French, during the reign of Francis I. There is mention made of it in an account of the siege of Rouen, which was undertaken by Henry IV. in 1592. Being shorter than the musquet but of a heavier calibre, and not unlike our blunderbuss; it was slung in a cross belt, so as to rest upon the chest of the person who discharged it. From this circumstance it obtained the name of Poitrinal.

PETRONEL. See Pistol.

PETTAH, Ind. the suburbs, or a town adjoining to a fort, which is in general surrounded by a stockade or fence of bamboos, a wall, and a ditch.

PEUPLER, Fr. literally means to people. This expression is used, in a military sense, by Belaire, author of Elémens de Fortification, in the following manner:—Il faut peupler la surface d’un glacis de Pierriers. The surface of a glacis ought to be well covered with pedereros. See page 388.

PHALANGE, Fr. See Phalanx.

PHALANX, a word taken from the Greek, signifying the same as legion. In antiquity, a huge, square, compact battalion, formed of infantry, set close with their shields joined, and pikes turned across. It consisted of 8000 men, and Livy says, it was invented by the Macedonians; and hence called the Macedonian phalanx.

PHAROS, (Phare, Fr.) a light-house or pile raised near a port, where a fire is kept burning in the night to direct vessels near at hand. The Pharos of Alexandria, built at the mouth of the Nile, was anciently very famous; whence the name was derived to all the rest. Ozanam says, Pharos anciently denoted a streight, as the Pharos or Pharo of Messina.

PHARSALIA, so called from Pharsalus, anciently a town in Thessaly, now Turkey in Europe, which lies a little to the south of Larissa. This spot was rendered memorable in history by the battle that was fought between Pompey and Cæsar, when they contended for the empire of the world. Plutarch has given the following account of the engagement:—

“Both armies were now arrived at the fields of Pharsalia, conducted by the two greatest generals alive; Pompey at the head of all the Roman nobility, the flower of Italy and Asia, all armed in the cause of liberty. Cæsar at the head of a body of troops firmly attached to his interests, men who had faced every appearance of danger, were long inured to hardships, and had grown from youth to age in the practice of arms. Both camps lay in sight of each other. In this manner they spent the night; when next morning, Cæsar’s army was going to decamp, word was brought him, that a tumult and murmur were heard in Pompey’s camp, as of men preparing for battle. Another messenger came soon after with tidings that the first ranks were already drawn out. Cæsar now seemed to enjoy the object of his wishes. Now, cried he to his soldiers, the wished for day is come, when you shall fight with men, not with want and hunger. His soldiers, with joy in their looks went each to his rank, like dancers on a stage; while Cæsar himself at the head of his tenth legion, a body of men that had never yet been broken, with silence and intrepidity waited for the onset. While Cæsar was thus employed, Pompey on horseback viewed both armies; and seeing the steady order of the enemy, with the impatience of his own soldiers, he gave strict orders, that the vanguard should make a stand, and keeping close in their ranks receive the enemy. Pompey’s army consisted of 45,000 men, Cæsar’s not quite half that number. And now the trumpet sounded the signal for battle on both sides, and both armies approached each other.

“While but yet a little space remained between either army, Caius Crastinus, a devoted Roman, issued from Cæsar’s army at the head of 120 men, and began the engagement. They cut through the opposite ranks with their swords, and made a great slaughter; but Crastinus still pressing forward, a soldier run him through the mouth, and the weapon came out at the back of his neck. In the mean time Pompey, designed to surround Cæsar, and to force his horse, which amounted to only one thousand, to fall back upon his infantry, gave orders that his own cavalry, consisting of 7000 men, should extend itself, and then attack the enemy. Cæsar expecting this, had placed 3000 foot in reserve, who rushed out fiercely, and attacked Pompey’s horse, letting fly their javelins in the faces of the young delicate Romans, who, careful of their beauty, turned their backs and were shamefully put to flight. Cæsar’s men, without pursuing them flanked the enemy, now unprotected by their horse, and soon a total rout began to ensue. Pompey, by the dust he saw flying in the air, quickly conjectured that his cavalry was overthrown, and overpowered by the event retired to his camp in agony and silence. In this condition he sat pondering in his tent, till roused by the shouts of the enemy breaking into his camp, he cried out: What, into the very camp! and without uttering any thing more, but putting on a mean habit, to disguise his flight, he departed secretly.” During the seven years war Frederick the great, king of Prussia, was much in the same situation. He had retired to his tent, and had given up every thing for lost, when the daring enterprise of Ziethen, who commanded the Death Hussars, turned the fortune of the day; and though he lost an incalculable number of Prussians, he secured the victory, and thereby restored to his master both his kingdom and his crown.

PHATUK, Ind. a gaol or prison. It likewise means a gate.

PHAUGUN, Ind. a month, which in some degree agrees with February and March.

PHILEBEG, or Kilt, from the Gaelic, Filleadh beg, which signifies a little plaid. This part of the Highland dress corresponds with the lower part of a belted plaid, and is frequently worn as an undress by Highland officers and soldiers. The philebeg or kilt may be considered as a very good substitute for the belted plaid, as it is not, at present, thought necessary for the Highlander to carry his clothing for the night, as well as by day, about his person. This was the case in ancient times, when the breachcan answered both purposes. The philebeg is a modern invention, and is the garment which some, who have endeavored to establish the antiquity of Truis, confound with the breachcan filleadh.

PHIRMAUND, Ind. This word is sometimes written Firmaun, and signifies a royal commission, mandate, charter, proclamation, or decree.

PHOUSDAR, Ind. The same as Fousdar, the superintendant of a large district. It more immediately signifies the officer in charge of the revenue.

PHOUS-DAN, Ind. The commander of a large body of forces.

PIAN, Fr. a term used in the West Indies, to signify a venereal taint.

PIANISTE, Fr. a person infected with the venereal disorder.

A PIC, Fr. perpendicularly.

PICE, Ind. a copper coin, used in most parts of India, the value of which four pices make an anna, sixteen anna, a rupee; and a rupee is half of our dollar; so that there are 64 pices to a rupee or half a dollar.

PICAROON, a pillager, one who plunders; a smuggler, one who violates the laws.

PICKETS, in fortification, stakes sharp at one end, and sometimes shod with iron, used in laying out the ground, of about three feet long; but, when used for pinning the fascines of a battery, they are from 3 to 5 feet long.

Pickets, in artillery, are about 5 or 6 feet long, shod with iron, to pin the park lines, and to lay out the boundaries of the park.

Pickets, in the camp, are also stakes of about 6 or 8 inches long, to fasten the tent cords, in pitching the tents; also, of about 4 or 5 feet long, driven into the ground near the tents of the horsemen, to tie their horses to.

Picket, an out-guard posted before an army, to give notice of an enemy approaching. See Guard.

Picket, a barbarian kind of punishment so called, where a soldier stood with one foot upon a sharp pointed stake: the time of his standing was limited according to the offence.

PICK, -

PICK-AXE,

PICKER,

A sharp pointed iron tool, used in trenching, &c. to loosen the ground.

Picker likewise means a small pointed piece of brass or iron wire, which every soldier carries to clear the touch-hole of his musquet. The brass pickers are the best, because they are not liable to snap or break off.

PICOREE, Fr. an obsolete French term, signifying a party of soldiers who go out in search of plunder.

PICORER, Fr. to go out in search of plunder. Obsolete.

PICOREUR, Fr. a marauder.

PICQUEERING, PICKERING, PICKEROONING, a little flying skirmish, which maurauders make, when detached for pillage, or before a main battle begins.

PICS-Hoyaux, Fr. Different sorts of pick-axes used by the pioneers.

PIECE, (Piéce, Fr.) This word is variously used, in a military sense, by the French and English, viz.

Un homme armé de toutes PIECES, Fr. a man armed at all points, or cap-a-pied.

Pieces d’honneur, Fr. the insignia or marks of honor. These consist of the crown, sceptre, and sword.

PIECES of Ordnance are all sorts of great guns and mortars.

Battering Pieces are the large guns which serve at sieges to make breaches, such as the 24-pounder, and the culverin, which carries 18lb. ball.

Garrison-Pieces, are mostly heavy 12, 18, 24, 36, and 42-pounders, besides wall guns.

Field-Pieces are twelve pounders, demi-culverins, six pounders, sakers, minions, and three pounders, which move with an army, and are parked behind the second line when it encamps, but are advanced in front, in the intervals of battalions, &c. and on the flanks in the day of battle.

Regimental Pieces, are light 6 pounders: each regiment has generally two of these pieces. See Am. Mil. Lib.

PIECE is likewise used to express a soldier’s musquet.

Piece Goods, in India, the various fabrics which manufacture cotton and silk, are distinguished by this term.

Une Piece d’artillerie, une Piece de canon, Fr. These terms are used by the French to signify cannon in general.

Pieces de Battierie, Fr. See Battering Pieces.

Pieces de campagne, Fr. See Field Pieces.

Pieces de vingt-quatre, Fr. 24 pounders.

Pieces de trente-six, Fr. 36 pounders. When pieces are not specifically named the term is used in the same general sense by the English, as, one hundred pieces of cannon, or artillery: cent piéces d’artillerie; but when the calibre is mentioned, it is usual in English to substitute the word pounder for piece, as une piéce de vingt quatre; four and twenty pounder.

Démonter les Pieces, Fr. to dismount cannon.

Enclouer les Pieces, Fr. to spike cannon.

Rafraichir les Pieces, Fr. to spunge or clean out cannon.

Piece de canon brisé, Fr. The French formerly made use of cannon that could be taken to pieces, and so rendered more portable. This species of ordnance was distinguished as above.

Piece versée en panier ou en cage, Fr. a piece of ordnance is said to be in this situation, when it is so completely overturned, as to have the wheels of its carriage in the air. Various methods have been proposed by able engineers to raise cannon that have been overturned. See Saint Remi, Manuel de l’artilleur, and a late publication, intituled, Aide Mémoire a l’usage des Officiers d’Artillerie de France, by Gassendi.

Pieces légeres, Fr. light pieces. See Field Pieces.

Pieces à la Suédoise, Fr. field pieces originally invented, and since used among the Swedes.

Pieces Nettes, Fr. Artillery pieces that have no defect whatever.

Pieces de Chasse, Fr. a marine term, signifying the cannon that is placed on the stern and forecastle of a ship. We call them chase-guns.

Pieces détachées, Travaux avancés en dehors, Fr. Those works which cover the body of a fortified place, towards the country; of this description are ravelins, demi-lunes, hornworks, tenailles, crown works, queues d’hironde, enveloppes, &c.

To be cut to Pieces, (Etre écharpê, Fr.) The French say, Un tel régiment, a éte écharpé. Such a regiment was cut to pieces.

PIED de Roi, Fr. a measure containing twelve French inches, or one hundred and forty lines.

Pied Quarré, Fr. The French square foot contains the same dimensions in length and breadth, giving one hundred and forty inches of surface.

Pied de toise quarrée, Fr. the sixth part of a square toise. The square toise contains 36 feet, the square foot consequently comprehends six feet, and must be considered as a rectangle.

Pied Cube, Fr. the same measure according to three dimensions. It contains 1728 cubic inches.

Pied Rhenan or Rhinlandique, Fr. the German foot. See Measure.

Pied courant, Fr. the extent of a foot considered as to length only.

Pied Marin, Fr. literally, sea-leg. See Marin.

Pied de mur ou de muraille, Fr. that lower part of a wall which is otherwise called Escarpe, and is contained between its base and top.

Pied de rampart, Fr. that extent of ground which lies between the fosse and the houses in a fortified town or place.

A Pied, Fr. On foot.

Pied à pied, Fr. foot by foot, gradually. Faire un logement pied à pied; to establish a lodgement foot by foot. Forcer les ouvrages pied à pied; to make regular approaches, or to besiege a town by opening trenches, &c. instead of insulting it by a direct attack.

Troupes retenues sur PIED, Fr. troops kept upon full pay.

Etre en PIED, Fr. to be kept upon full pay, in contradistinction to reformé, or being reduced.

PIEDROIT, Fr. Pier.

PIEGE, Fr. Snare.

PIERRE, Fr. A stone.

Pierre à feu, Fr. Flint.

Pierre à fusil, Fr. A flint.

PIERREE, Fr. A drain, water-course.

PIERRIER, Fr. A swivel, a pederero.

PIERRIERE, Fr. A quarry.

PIERRIERES, Fr. Heaps of stones, which are designedly collected round fortified places to interrupt besiegers in their approaches. These heaps are covered over with earth to conceal the stratagem; and the spots on which they lie are frequently fortified with palisadoes, in the form of bonnets or saliant angles; so that when the besieger attempts to carry them, the artillery from the ramparts or neighboring places, may be fired amongst the heaps of stones, and considerable damage be done by the fragments that must necessarily fly about.

PIERS. The columns on which the arch of a bridge is raised.

PIES, Fr. Knights that were created by Pope Pius IV. in 1560, with the titles of counts Palatines. They took precedence, at Rome, of the knights of the Teutonic order, and of those of Malta.

PIETINER, Fr. to move the feet with great quickness. It likewise signifies to mark time, but not technically so.

PIETON, Fr. a foot soldier.

PIEU, Fr. a large beam, or stake.

PIEUX, Fr. This word is sometimes used in the plural number to signify palisades.

PIGNON, Fr. the gable end of a building.

PIKE, in war, an offensive weapon, consisting of a wooden shaft, from 6 to 20 feet long, with a flat steel head, pointed, called the spear. This instrument was long in use among the infantry; but now the bayonet, which is fixed on the muzzle of the firelock, is substituted in its stead. The Macedonian phalanx was a battalion of pikemen.

PIKEMEN, soldiers armed with pikes.

The utility of the Pike was pointed out by marshal Saxe, but until the French being destitute of firearms for their national guards, were forced to resort to it, the great value of the weapon was not well understood; although the bayonet, which is only a pike on the end of a firelock, was in general use. On an emergency, where arms are scarce, the pike may always be relied on against infantry or cavalry. See Am. Mil. Lib.

PIKESTAFF, the wooden pole or handle of a pike.

PILE, Fr. A species of javelin which was used by the Romans. They darted these weapons with so much force, that, according to tradition, two men have been pierced through, together with their shields or bucklers.

Piles, strong pieces of wood, driven into the ground to make a firm foundation for any kind of work.

To PILE or stack arms, to place three musquets with six bayonets in such a relative position, that the butts shall remain firm upon the ground, and the muzzles be close together in an oblique direction. This method has been adopted to prevent the injury which was formerly done to musquetry, when the practice of grounding the firelock prevailed. Every recruit should be taught how to pile or stack arms before he is dismissed the drill.

PILE, any heap; as a pile of balls, shells, &c.

Piles of shot or shells, are generally piled up in the magazines, in three different manners: the base is either a triangular square, or a rectangle; and from thence the piles are called triangular, square, and oblong.

Table, of Triangular Piles of Shot.

Side. Con- tent. Side. Con- tent. Side. Con- tent. Side. Con- tent.

2 4 13 473 24 437 35 7486

3 10 14 574 25 751 36 8184

4 20 15 696 26 3091 37 9322

5 35 16 731 27 3458 38 10131

6 56 17 883 28 3853 39 10981

7 84 18 1043 29 4277 40 11871

8 120 19 1222 30 4731 41 12807

9 165 20 1540 31 5216 42 13730

10 220 21 1641 32 5733 43 14659

11 296 22 1883 33 6283 44 15585

12 384 23 2148 34 6867 45 16511

Explanation. The numbers in the 1st, 3d, 5th, and 7th vertical columns, express the number of shot in the base or side of each triangular pile; and the numbers in the 2d, 4th, 6th, and 8th vertical columns, express the number of shot in each pile.

Rules for finding the number in any Pile.

Triangular Pile.

Multiply the base by the base + 1, this product by the base + 2, and divide by 6.

Square Pile.

Multiply the bottom row by the bottom row + 1, and this product by twice the bottom row + 2, and divide by 6.

Rectangular Piles.

Multiply the breadth of the base by itself + 1, and this product by three times the difference between the length and the breadth of the base, added to twice the breadth + 1, and divide by 6.

Incomplete Piles.

Incomplete piles being only frustums, wanting a similar small pile on the top, compute first the whole pile as if complete, and also the small pile wanting at top; and then subtract the one number from the other.

Table, of square Piles of Shot.

side con- tent side con- tent side cont’t side cont’t side cont’t

2 5 20 2871 38 19019 56 60116 74 137825

3 14 21 3311 39 20540 57 63365 75 143450

4 30 22 3795 40 22140 58 66729 76 149226

5 55 23 4324 41 23821 59 70210 77 155155

6 91 24 4900 42 25585 60 73810 78 161239

7 140 25 5525 43 27434 61 77531 79 167480

8 204 26 6201 44 29370 62 81375 80 173880

9 285 27 6930 45 31395 63 85344 81 180441

10 385 28 7714 46 33511 64 89440 82 187165

11 506 29 8555 47 35720 65 93665 83 194054

12 650 30 9455 48 38024 66 98021 84 201110

13 819 31 10416 49 40425 67 102510 85 208335

14 1015 32 11440 50 42925 68 107134 86 215731

15 1240 33 12529 51 45526 69 111895 87 223300

16 1496 34 13685 52 48230 70 116795 88 231044

17 1785 35 14910 53 51039 71 121836 89 238965

18 2109 36 16206 54 53955 72 127020 90 247065

19 2470 37 17575 55 56980 73 132349 91 255346

Explanation. The numbers gradually increasing, from 2 to 91, express the number of shot at the base of each square pile; and the numbers opposite, the quantity of shot in each complete square pile. Example. No. 20 gives 2871, and No 30 gives 9455; and so of the rest.

PILIER, Fr. a buttress.

PILLAGE, (pillage, Fr.) The act of plundering.

To PILLAGE, to spoil, to waste, to plunder.

Pillager, a plunderer; one who gets a thing by violent or illegal means.

PILLAR, in a figurative sense, support. A well disciplined army may be called the pillar of the state; an ill disciplined one, the reverse.

PILLARS, and ARCHES. It was customary among the ancients, particularly among the Romans, to erect public buildings, such as arches and pillars, for the reward and encouragement of noble enterprise. These marks were conferred upon such eminent persons as had either won a victory of extraordinary consequence abroad, or had rescued the commonwealth from any considerable danger. The greatest actions of the heroes they stood to honor, were curiously expressed, or the whole procession of a triumph cut out on the sides. The arches built by Romulus were only of brick, those of Camillus of plain square stones; but those of Cæsar, Drusus, Titus, Trajan, Gordian, &c. were all entirely marble. As to their figure, they were at first semicircular; whence probably they took their names. Afterwards they were built four square, with a spacious arched gate in the middle, and little ones on each side. Upon the vaulted part of the middle gate, hung little winged images, representing victory, with crowns in their hands, which when they were let down, they put upon the conqueror’s head as he passed under the triumph.—Fabricii Roma, cap. 15.

The columns or pillars were converted to the same design as the arches, for the honorable memorial of some noble victory or exploit, after they had been a long time in use for the chief ornaments of the sepulchres of great men, as may be gathered from Homer, Iliad 16.

The pillars of the emperors Trajan and Antoninus, have been extremely admired for their beauty and curious work. We find them thus particular described in page 53, of Kennett’s Roman Antiquities.

The former was set up in the middle of Trajan’s forum, being composed of 24 great stones of marble, but so curiously cemented, as to seem one entire natural stone. The height was 144 feet, according to Eutropius, (Hist. lib. 8.) though Martian (lib. iii. cap. 13.) seems to make them but 128. It is ascended by 185 winding stairs, and has 40 little windows for the admission of light. The whole pillar is incrusted with marble, in which are expressed all the noble actions of the emperor, and particularly the Dacian war. One may see all over it the several figures of forts, bulwarks, bridges, ships, &c. and all manner of arms, as shields, helmets, targets, swords, spears, daggers; belts, &c. together with the several offices and employments of the soldiers; some digging trenches, some measuring out a place for the tents, and others making a triumphal procession. (Fabricus, cap. 7.) But the noblest ornament of this pillar, was the statute of Trajan on the top, of a gigantic bigness, being no less than 20 feet high. He was represented in a coat of armor proper to the general, holding in his left hand a sceptre, in his right a hollow globe of gold, in which his own ashes were deposited after his death, (Casalius, par. I. c. 2.)

The column or pillar of Antoninus, was raised in imitation of this, which it exceeded only in one respect, that it was 176 feet high; (Martian, lib. vi. cap. 13.) for the work was much inferior to the former, as being undertaken in the declining age of the empire. The ascent on the inside was 106 stairs, and the windows in the inside 56. The sculpture and the other ornaments were of the same nature as those of the first; and on the top stood a colossus of the emperor naked, as appears from some of his coins. See Martian idem.

Both these columns are still standing at Rome, the former most entire. But Pope Sixtus I. instead of the two statues of the emperors, set up St. Peter’s on the column of Trajan, and St. Paul’s on that of Antoninus. Casal, part I. c. 11.

Among the columns and pillars we must not pass by, (to use Mr. Kennett’s words) the Milliarium aureum, a gilded pillar in the forum, erected by Augustus Cæsar, at which all the highways of Italy met, and were concluded. (Martian, lib. iii. cap. 18.) From this they counted their miles, at the end of every mile setting up a stone; whence came the phrase Primus ab urbe lapis, and the like. This pillar, as Mr. Lassels informs us, is still to be seen.

PILON, Fr. a weapon, the use of which has been recommended by marshal Saxe, in his plan forming several battalions four deep. The two first ranks are to be armed with musquets, the third and fourth with large half pikes or pilons, having their musquets slung across their shoulders.

PILUM. The head of an arrow was so called by the Romans.

PINASSE, Fr. a pinnace.

PINDAREES, Ind. plunderers and marauders, who accompany a Mahrattah army. The name is properly that of persons who travel with grain and merchandize; but war affording so many opportunities and creating so many necessities, the merchants as it is all over the world, became plunderers and the worst of enemies.

To PINION, to bind the hands or arms of a person so as to prevent his having the free use of them.

PINK, a sort of small ship, masted and ribbed like other ships, except that she is built with a round stern, the bends and ribs compassing, so that her sides bulge out very much.

PIN, an iron nail or bolt, with a round head, and generally with a hole at the end to receive a key: there are many sorts, as axle-tree pins, or bolts, bolster pins, pole-pins, swing-tree pins, &c.

There are likewise musquet pins, which are small pieces of iron or wire that fasten the stock. Soldiers are very apt to take out these pins in order to make their pieces ring; but they should not on any account, be permitted so to do.

PINTLE in artillery, a long iron bolt, fixed upon the middle of the limber-bolster, to go through the hole made in the trail-transom of a field-carriage, when it is to be transported from one place to another.

Pintle-plate, is a flat iron, through which the pintle passes, and nailed to both sides of the bolster, with 8 diamond headed nails.

Pintle-washer, an iron ring through which the pintle passes, placed close to the bolster for the trail to move upon.

Pintle-hole, is of an oval figure, made in the trail-transom of a field-carriage, wider above than below, to leave room for the pintle to play in.

PIOBRACH, the Gaelic word for a piper; also an air played upon the bagpipe. It is now more strictly applied to the ancient Highland martial music.

Piobrachs, are either simple or compound; some of them consist of a march, &c. and are beautifully varied, and highly characteristic.

PIOCHE, Fr. a mattock, pickaxe.

PIOCHER, Fr. to dig.

PIONEERS, in war-time, are such as are commanded in from the country, to march with an army, for mending the ways, for working on entrenchments and fortifications, and for making mines and approaches: the soldiers are likewise employed in all these things.

Most of the European artillery corps have a company of pioneers, well instructed in that important branch of duty. The regiments of infantry and cavalry have 3 or 4 pioneers each, provided with aprons, hatchets, saws, spades, and pick-axes. The French sappers are the same kind of soldiers.

PIONIERS, Fr. pioneers.

PIPE, a tube; a musical instrument; a liquid measure, containing two hogsheads.

Pipe, from the Gaelic piob mohr, which signifies great pipe. The Highland bagpipe is so called, and is an instrument well calculated for the field of battle. When the bagpipe is skilfully performed, its martial music has a wonderful effect upon the native Scotch, particularly the Highlanders, who are naturally warlike.

TAIL-Pipe, a small brass pipe fixed at the swell of the British musquet, which receives the ramrod.

Trumpet PIPE, a small brass pipe near the muzzle of the British firelock, through which the ramrod is let down. It is called trumpet-pipe, from its resemblance to the mouth of a trumpet. The Prussians have no pipes to their musquets; the ramrod being received into a cylinder which runs parallel with the barrel; nor is there any pipe of this kind to the American or the French musquet; the ramrod passing within the three straps of iron or plate rings which bind the barrel to the stock.

Pipe-Clay and Whiting, a composition which soldiers use for the purpose of keeping their cross-belts, &c. clean.

PIQUE, Fr. See Pike.

PIQUICHINS, Fr. irregular and ill-armed soldiers, of which mention is made in the history of the reign of Philippe Augustus. They were attached to the infantry.

PIQUIER, Fr. a pikeman, or one who is armed with a pike.

PIRAMIDE, Fr. See Pyramid.

PIRAMIDES de feu, Fr. See Jets de Feu.

PIRATE, Fr. a pirate.

PISTE, Fr. the track or tread a horseman makes upon the ground he goes over.

PISTOL, a species of small fire-arms, of which there are various sorts and sizes, viz.

Highland PISTOL. The old Highland pistol appears singular enough in the present day. Some that have been preserved, exhibit marks of excellent workmanship. The stock is metal, and the but end so shaped, that when fired off, the pistol can be used as a very serious weapon at close quarters. The Highland pistol, though never used by any of the British regiments, is still worn by every person who wishes to be considered as fully dressed and accoutred in the ancient garb. It is suspended from the left side of the waistbelt.

Horse-Pistol, so called from being used on horseback, and of a large size.

Management of the Pistol on horseback for military purposes. Every recruit when he joins the horse-drill should be made perfectly acquainted with the handling of his pistols according to rule, and of firing correctly at a mark. To this end he must be taught to draw, load, fire, and return his pistol, by word of command, viz.

1st. The right glove is to be taken off, and the goat-skin thrown back.

Draw right Pistol. This is done at two motions; 1st, the man must seize the handle of the pistol with his right hand, the back towards the body. 2d, Draw it out of the holster with a brisk motion, dropping the butt of the pistol on the right holster, and keeping the muzzle upwards.

Load Pistol. The pistol is to be dropped smartly into the left hand; open the pan, prime, cast about, and load; as soon as loaded, seize the pistol by the butt, and come to the same position as in the second motion in drawing; the bridle hand must be kept as steady as possible. In loading the pistol, the barrel is to be kept to the front.

Return Pistol. This is done in two motions: 1st, turn the muzzle into the holster, with the back of the hand towards the body, and press home the pistol. 2d, Quit the right hand briskly.

Cock Pistol. Drop the pistol into the left hand, cocking with the thumb of the right, and as soon as done come to the second position, viz. muzzle upwards.

To the right aim. Come smartly to an aim, looking well along the barrel to the object you are aiming at, and turning your body as much as is necessary to aim well, but taking care not to displace your bridle hand.

Fire! pull briskly at the word, and as soon as fired go on with the loading motions; when loaded come to the position as in the first direction, viz. muzzle upwards.

Cock Pistol, as already explained.

To the left aim. This requires particular attention, as the men will be apt to bring their right shoulders too forward, and by that means displace their bodies and the bridle hand.

Fire! as already explained.

Cock Pistol. To the front aim. You must raise yourself in your stirrups, in order to take a proper aim; you must then look well along the pistol, and wait for the word fire.

Fire! As soon as you have fired, you must drop into your seat, and go on with the loading motions, as before directed.

Return Pistol, as already explained.

Draw left Pistol, See Draw your right Pistol.

Pocket Pistol, a small pistol, which may be conveniently carried in the pocket.

PISTOLETS, Fr. See Pistols.

PITANS, Patan, Ind. according to Mr. Orme, in his History of the Carnatic, the Pitans are supposed to be the descendants of the northern Indians, who were early converted to Mahomedanism. They have been reckoned the best troops. They are habitually fierce.

Pitan Nabobs. Certain chiefs in India so called, viz. of Cudapa, Canoul, and Savanore.

PITAUX, Fr. This word is sometimes written petaux, and was formerly used to distinguish those peasants that were pressed into the service, from soldiers who were regularly inlisted.

To PITCH, (asseoir, Fr.)

To PITCH a camp, (asseoir un camp, Fr.) to take a position, and to encamp troops upon it according to the principles of castrametation. See Am. Mil. Lib.

To PITCH a tent, to place a certain regulated quantity of canvas upon poles, so as to afford a temporary cover, against the inclemencies of the weather for one or more, officers or private soldiers. In order that the men may become expert in pitching and striking tents, they ought to be practised whilst in camp to do either.

PITCHANDAH, Ind. a fortified pagoda on the north bank of the Coleroon, one mile east of Seringham.

PITONS, Fr. nails with round eyes. They likewise signify pins with iron rings.

Pitons d’affut, Fr. iron pins which are used to keep the plate-bands of the carriage of a cannon tight and compact.

PIVOT, (Pivot, Fr.) in a military sense, that officer, serjeant, corporal, or soldier, upon whom the different wheelings are made in military evolutions. There are two sorts of pivots distinguished according to the position of the troops who are governed by them, viz. standing pivot and moveable pivot. When a battalion, for instance, stands in open column of companies, the right in front, the last man upon the left of the front rank of each company, is called the inner, or standing pivot; and the first man upon the right ditto, is called the outer pivot, or wheeling flank. So much depends upon the accurate position of the different pivots, that no movement can be thoroughly correct unless the most scrupulous attention be paid to them. Officers, in particular, ought to recollect that when they are posted upon the flanks, they become essentially necessary to the preservation of that perpendicular and parallelism of a march, without which direction the best digested manœuvres must be ultimately rendered useless. They must constantly bear in mind, that it belongs to the mounted field officers to watch the aggregate, and that they themselves, being incorporated parts of the different divisions, are to move successively forward, with no other object in view than the perpendicular point before them. For if they once turn to the right or left, or become anxious about the movements of others, instead of being the means of insensibly correcting any errors that might casually occur, they will deviate themselves, and at every step increase the irregularity. On this account, the instant an officer has wheeled his division, he must resume his perpendicular position, look stedfastly on his leading pivot, preserve his relative distance, and keep his person perfectly square. He ought likewise to be particularly correct in stepping off when the wheel is completed.

Moveable Pivot, one which during the wheel of its division advances in a circular direction, instead of turning on the spot where it originally stood. Thus when divisions, &c. are successively wheeled, without being first halted, the pivot upon which they wheel is said to be moveable.

In the drill, single ranks are frequently wheeled on a moveable pivot. In which case, both flanks are moveable, and describe concentring circles round a point which is a few paces from what would otherwise be the standing flank; and eyes are all turned towards the outer pivot or flank man, whether he is on the outward flank, or on the flank wheeled to.

Pivot-Flanks, the flanks upon which a line is formed from column. When the right of the battalion is in front, the pivot flanks are on the left of its several companies, platoons, &c. and vice versâ, when the left is in front.

Pivot-flank officer, the officer who is on the first flank. In all wheelings during the march in column the officer on that flank upon which the wheel is made must attend himself to the correctness of the pivot.

Platoon Pivots, the men upon whom a battalion marches in column of platoons, is wheeled up into line, or into column, when the line has been formed according to a given front.

It is in the modern improved tactics determined that commissioned officers shall not themselves be the pivots, but that they shall consist of the non-commissioned officers, or rank and file on each flank only; and not the officers on those flanks; but the officers are strictly required to see that the pivots perform their duty correctly, and are responsible for it.

PLACAGE, Fr.. in fortification, a kind of revetement, which is made of thick plastic earth, laid along the talus of such parapets as have no mason-work, and which is covered with turf.

PLACARD, -

PLACART,

or, as it is in the original Dutch language Placaat, a term used abroad for a proclamation, edict, &c. put up in all public places, by government authority; whereby their subjects are ordered to do, or forbear, something expressed therein. See Manifesto.

PLACARD, Fr. any bill, or public paper, that is posted up; same as Bulletin. 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, in fortification, signifies, in general terms, a fortified town, a fortress: hence we say it is a strong place. See Pocket Encyclopedia, vol. V. Place.

Place of 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 a place of arms.

2dly. In offensive fortification, those lines are called places of arms, or parallels, 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 are demi-places of arms between the places of arms. These are more or less numerous in proportion to the resistance made by the besieged.

Places of arms belonging to the covert-way. These are divided into two sorts, viz. saliant and rentrant places 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.

Place of 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.

Place of 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. See Parallels.

Place of 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.

Place of arms of the covert-way, is a part of it, opposite to the re-entering angle of the counterscarp, projecting outwards in an angle.

Place marécageuse, 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.

Place elevée 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.

Place située 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.

Place située 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.

Place située 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 no artificial means to secure them on the side of the river.

Place de guerre, Fr. any town or place that is regularly, or irregularly fortified.

Place basse, Fr. In fortification the lower flanks according to certain systems are so called.

Place forte, 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.

Places contreminées, Fr. all fortresses, &c. are called places contreminées, or countermined, 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.

Place haute, Fr. According to the systems of some engineers (which have not been followed of late years) the place 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.

Places non 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.

Places revêtues, 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.

Une PLACE de bouche, Fr. one ration of provisions.

Deux PLACES de fourrage, Fr. Two rations of forage.

To be PLACED. 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 bien PLACE, 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, or ichnography, in fortification, 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 properly profile, 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 make plans of 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.

PLAN of comparison, a geometrical sketch of any fortress and adjacent country within cannon shot, in which the different levels of every principal point are expressed.

PLAN, Fr. See Plan.

Lever le PLAN de 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.

Planches d’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. See Belidor.

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.

To PLANT, 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.

Planter le piquet chez quelqu’un, Fr. To quarter one-self upon any body.

Planter là quelqu’un, Fr. To leave a person abruptly, or, as we familiarly say, to leave another in the lurch.

Planter quelque 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.

Planter un bâtiment, Fr. To lay the first stones, or the foundations of a building.

PLAQUE, Fr. The shell of a sword. See Placage.

PLAQUES de 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. See Mould.

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.

Plat pays. 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 à PLAT de 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 à PLATE couture, 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.

Plat de 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 au PLAT des 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 spot near the sea which is well calculated for a descent. As Le Platain de d’Angoulin, and the Platain de Chatelaillon, near Rochelle.

PLATES, or prise 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.

Breast Plates, the two plates, on the face of the carriage, on the other cheek.

Breast Plates, the clasps, with ornamented heads, by which the cross belts in the army are attached.

Train Plates, the two plates on the cheeks at the train of the carriage.

Dulidge Plates, 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.

Platebandes d’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, in gunnery, 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.

At 13 feet distance for firing at 30 degrees.

21 feet at 20

30 feet at 15

40 feet at 10

over an epaulement of 8 feet high. See Battery.

PLATINE de lumiere, Fr. The same as Plaques 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, in military 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 cannon play upon the enemy, &c.

PLEBEIAN. From the Latin Plebius, 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 as bolster, 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.

PLEIN du Mur, Fr. The main part or body of a wall.

PLEIN fouet, direct shot; or firing so as to hit the mark by the trajectory line.

PLIER, Fr. To give way.

Une aile qui PLIE, 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.

A Plomb, 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.

Plongee du Rampart, Fr. The slope of the upper part of the parapet, belonging to the rampart, is so called. The slope is likewise named talus 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, as canon plongé.

PLUIE de 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 Latin Plumbum, 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 5 plus 7, 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 the musculi. 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 called plutei by the Romans, and that seven or eight soldiers could be put under cover beneath them. 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.

Pneumatic Engine, denotes the air pump.

PNEUMATIQUE, Fr. Pneumatics.

POIDS, Fr. Weights.

Poids de Marc, Fr. Avoirdupois weight.

Poids Romain, Fr. Troy weight.

Poids à peser l’eau, Fr. Waterpoise.

Etre de POIDS, Fr. To weigh.

Avec POIDS et mesure, Fr. With care and circumspection.

POIGNARD, Fr. Dagger, poniard.

Coup de POIGNARD, 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.

La Poignee, Fr. The handle.

POIL, Fr. Hair. Monter un cheval à POIL. To ride a horse without a saddle.

Un brave à trois POILS, 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 called poincon 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, or of the eye, or principal 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.

Accidental POINTS, or Contingent POINTS, 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.

Point of 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.

Third POINT, is a point taken at discretion in the line of distance, wherein all the diagonals drawn from the divisions of the geometrical plane concur.

Objective POINT, a point on a geometrical plane, whose representation is required on the perspective plane.

Point of concourse, in optics, is that wherein converging rays meet, more commonly called the focus.

Point of 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.

Covering POINT, 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 its coveting point of 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) of intersection, 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 the point (d) where the old and new positions of the second line intersect, and which is a most material one in the movement of that line.

Point of honor. See Honor.

Point of 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.

Point of Intersection, the point where two lines intersect each other.

Intermediate Point. 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.

Point of Alignment, (Point d’alignement, Fr.) The point which troops form upon and dress by.

Point of Formation, a point taken, upon which troops are formed in military order.

Perpendicular Point, the point upon which troops march in a straight forward direction.

Relative Points, the points by which the parallelism of a march is preserved.

Point of passing, the ground on which one or more bodies of armed men march by a reviewing general.

Point to 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.

Point of 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.

Point du jour, Fr. break of day; dawn.

Point de vue, Fr. prospect, sight, aim.

De POINT en blanc, Fr. point blank.

A POINT, Fr. in time.

A POINT nommée, Fr. seasonably.

La POINTE, Fr. the point of the sword.

Point is 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.

Point blank, (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 French point blank or but en blanc, is what the English artillery call the line 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.

Points d’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. See Point d’appui. Am. Mil. Lib.

POINTING of 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.

To POISON a 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.

Poix résine, Fr. Rosin.

POLACRE, Fr. A lappel coat.

POLACRE, or Polaque, 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 the tongue.

POLES, in castrametation, long round pieces of wood, by which a marquee or tent is supported. There are three sorts, viz.

Ridge Pole, a long round piece of wood, which runs along the top of an officer’s tent or marquee, and is supported by two other poles, viz.

Front Pole, 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.

Rear Pole, 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.

Fire POLES, or Rods, 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. See Battle 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.

Police d’assurance, Fr. a policy of Insurance.

POLICY in war. See Stratagem.

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.

POLL Money, 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 called Pollice 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 Italian Poltrone, which takes its derivation from Poltro, a colt; because of that animal’s readiness to run away; or Poltro a bed, as pusillanimous people take a pleasure in lying in bed. This last word is derived from the high Dutch Polster, 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 among real soldiers. 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.

Regular Polygon, 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.

Irregular Polygon, is that whose sides and angles are unequal.

Exterior Polygon, that whose lines touch the points of the flanked angles, when a place is fortified inwards.

Interior Polygon, that outward fortification which makes the angles of the gorget; so that the whole bastion is without the polygon.

POLYEDRE, Fr. See Polyedron.

Lunettes Polyedres, Fr. Magnifying glasses.

POLYEDRICAL, -

POLYEDROUS,

having many sides.

POLYEDRON, a solid figure or body consisting of many sides.

POLYGRAPHIE, Fr. See Polygraphy.

POLYNOMIAL, (Polynôme, Fr.) an algebraical term, signifying a quantity made up of many others by means of the sign + or more, and the sign - or less.

POLYORCETE, Fr. a term used among the french to distinguish great warriors. It literally signifies the taking of strong towns. Marshals Saxe and Lowendalh, les grands Polyorcetes of the last century.

POLYTECHNIQUE, -

Ecole Polytechnique,

a word derived from the Greek, and used by the French to distinguish an establishment in which all sciences are taught. The military school, which existed during the French monarchy, is comprised in this institution. See Military School.

POMADA, an exercise of vaulting the wooden horse, by laying one hand over the pommel of the saddle.

POMERIUM, in ancient architecture, that space of ground which lay between the walls of a fortified town and the inhabitants’ houses. The term is still used among modern architects, particularly by the Italians, as Peter Cataneo, and Alghiri, to describe the breadth of the terre pleine of rampart, its inward talus, and the vacant space which is usually left between this talus and the houses of the town.

POMMEL, (Pommeau, Fr.) a piece of brass or other substance, at top, and in the middle of the saddle bow, to which are fastened the holsters, stirrip leathers, &c.

POMMEL, the knob at the extremity of the handle that balances the blade of the sword; also the protuberance on the fore part of a saddle.

POMMES, Fr. round pieces of wood which are variously used for ornament, &c.

Pommes de Pavillon et d’enseigne, Fr. the piece of wood which is fixed at the top of the color staff, &c.

POMPE, Fr. See Pump.

Pompe de mer, Fr. a sea pump, or a pump used on board a ship.

Pomper, Fr. to pump.

PONANT, Fr. the west. In the French sea-service, ponant signifies that part of the ocean which is separated from the seas in the Levant by the streights of Gibraltar.

Officier Ponantin, Fr. one who serves upon the ocean.

Armée Ponantine, Fr. the army of the west.

PONCEAU, Fr. a small bridge of one arch, which is thrown across a canal or rivulet.

PONCER, Fr. to rub, or pounce upon any thing.

PONIARD, a little pointed dagger, very sharp edged.

PONT d’or, Fr. a figurative expression which the French use, when they suffer an enemy, whom they have defeated, to retire without molestation. Hence faire un pont d’or à son ennemi. To suffer your enemy to escape.

PONTE, Fr. covered in, as a vessel is which has a deck.

PONTON, Fr. A bridge; a machine made like a batteau or boat, of copper or tin, upon which planks are laid over which troops pass as on a bridge. See Pontoon.

Pontonier, Fr. Lighterman.

PONTS flottans, Fr. See Floating Bridge.

Pont levis, Fr. See Drawbridge.

Pont tournant, Fr. a moveable bridge. It is of the nature of a drawbridge, with this difference, that it turns upon a pivot, and goes entirely round.

Pont de bois, Fr. a wooden bridge.

Pont de corde, Fr. a bridge of ropes.

Pont de jonc, Fr. a bridge of rushes.

Pont suspendu, Fr. a hanging bridge.

Pont de sortie, Fr. a sally bridge.

Pont dormant, Fr. a wooden bridge, which is generally laid upon the fosse of a fortified town, for the purpose of maintaining a constant communication between the main body of the place and the outworks and country round. These bridges are not thrown entirely across the fosses, but terminate within twelve or fifteen feet of the revetement; the space from thence is supplied by drawbridges. When the ponts dormans are very long, a swing bridge is constructed in the centre of it. When the ditches are wet, and so constantly supplied with water that the depth of it is generally the same, bridges of boats may be used instead of ponts dormans. And in cases of attack, floating bridges may be substituted in lieu of both.

PONTON, or PONTOON, a kind of flat bottomed boat, whose carcass of wood is lined within and without with tin: they serve to lay bridges over rivers for the artillery and army to march over. The French pontoons, and those of most other powers, are made of copper on the outside: though they cost more at first, yet they last much longer than those of tin; and, when worn out, the copper sells nearly for as much as it cost at first; but when that of tin are rendered useless, they sell for nothing. The British pontoons are 21 feet long, 5 feet broad, and depth within 2 feet 3 inches.

PONTOONS. Length at top, 21 feet 6 inches. Length at bottom, 17 feet 2 inches. Width, 4 feet 9 inches, or 5 feet. Depth, 2 feet 3 inches.

Equipage of one Pontoon.

ft. in. ft. in. in.

4 Baulks 22 8 long 1 0 wide 4 thick.

1 Gang-board. 22 0 —— 1 0 —— 2 ¹⁄₂ ——

6 Cheeses, 11 6 —— 2 4 —— 1 ¹⁄₂ ——

2 Oars.

1 Anchor.

1 Graplin.

1 Setter.

4 Iron bolts, with keys.

2 mounting bars.

4 Binding sticks.

4 Spring lines.

4 Faukes.

1 Cable.

1 Sheer-line.

1 Boat hook.

1 Maul.

4 Pickets.

1 Small pump.

1 Windlass.

1 Pontoon carriage, complete.

Dimensions of colonel Congreve’s Wooden Pontoons.

Length at top 26 feet.

—— at bottom 23 ——

Depth 2 8 inches.

Width 2 3 ——

The common pontoons will support a weight of 4 or 5000 pounds. They are generally placed, in forming a bridge, about their own width asunder. See Bridge.