ALM ( u ) A M A
edge made to traverse the bore by menor horses, and in an horizontal direc-tion.
ALLEZURES, Fr. the metal takenfrom the cannon by boring.
ALLIAGE, a term used by theFrench , to denote the composition ofmetals used for the fabrication of can-non and mortars, &c.
ALLIANCE , Fr. in a military sense,signifies a treaty entered into by sove-reign princes and states, for their mu-tual safety and defence. In this sensealliances may be divided into such asare offensive, where the contractingparties oblige themselves jointly to at-tack some other power; and into suchas are defensive, whereby the contract-ing powers bind themselves to stand by,and defend one another, in case of beingattacked by any other power.
Alliances are variously distinguishedaccording to their object, the parties inthem, &c. Hence we read of equal, un-equal, triple, quadruple, grand, offensive,defensive alliances, &c.
ALLODIAL, independent; not feu-dal. The Allodii of the Romans werebodies of men embodied on any emer-gency, in a manner similar to our volun-teer associations.
ALLOGNE, the cordage used withfloating bridges, by which they areguided from one side of a river to theother.
ALLONGE, Fr. a pass or thrust witha rapier or small sword; also a long reinused in the exercising of horses.
ALLONGER, Fr. to lengthen.
ALLOWANCE, a sum paid monthlyor otherwise, as the case may he, foiservices rendered, &c. The French usethe word traitement in this sense. Theyalso say Allouance, from Allouer, toallow.
ALLOY is the mixture of metalsthat enter into the composition ofthe metal proper for cannon and mor-tars.
ALLY, in a military sense, impliesany nation united to another, under atreaty, either offensive or defensive, orboth.
ALMADIE, a kind of military canoe,or small vessel, about 24 feet long,made of the bark of a tree, and used bythe negroes of Africa.
Almadie is also the name of a long-boat used at Calcutta , near 30 feet long,and generally six or seven broad.
ALTIMETRY, the taking or mea-suring altitude, or heights.
ALTITUDE, height or distance fromthe ground measured upwards, and maybe either accessible or inaccessible.
Altitude of figure is the distance ofits vertex from its base, or the length ofa perpendicular let fall from the vertexto the base.
Altitude of a shot or shell is theperpendicular height of the vertex of thecurve in which it moves above the hori-zon. See Gunnery and Projectiles.
Altitude, in optics, is usually consi-dered as the angle subtended between aline drawn through the eye, parallel tothe horizon, and a visual ray emittedfrom an object of the eye.
Altitude, in cosmography, is theperpendicular height of an object, or itsdistance from the horizon upwards.
Altitudes are divided into accessibleand inaccessible.
Accessible Altitude of an object isthat whose base you can have access to,i. c. measure the nearest distance be-i ween your station and the foot of theobject on the ground.
Inaccessible Altitude of an object isthat when the foot or bottom of it can-not be approached, by reason of someimpediment; such as water, or the like.The instruments chiefly used in measur-ing altitudes , are the quadrant, theo-dolite, geometric quadrant, or line ofshadows, &c.
Altitude of the ei/e, in perspective,is a right line let fall from the eye, per-pendicular to the geometrical plane.
Altitude of motion , a term used bysome writers, to express the measure ofany motion, computed according to theline of direction of the moving force.
AMARRER sur la culasse (fun canon tFr. to tie or lash to the breech of a gun,in order to inflict bodily chastisement,or to answer any other purpose.
A MAS, Fr. stores.
AMAZON, one of those women whoinhabited the country so called. Theyare said to have composed a nation ofthemselves, exclusive of males, and tohave derived their name from their cut-ting off one of their breasts, that it mightnot hinder or impede the exercise oftheir arms. This term has often bymodern writers been used to signify ftbold daring woman, whom the delicacyof her sex does not hinder from engag-ing in the most hazardous attempts.C 2