SLA

other; one who lays false imputationson another; a low-lived reptile thatcreeps into the confidence of weakprinces and generals, and ought to bedriven out of every military mess.

SLANG, cant terms; expressionspeculiar to some particular class ofpersons; generally of a vulgar sort.

Garrison Slang, (Ion de garnison,Fr.) a low phraseology, not unfreqnemlymixed with oaths, which is prevalentin camps and barracks; also a coarseand abrupt mode of conversation.

SLASH, a cut; a wound; also a cutin cloth. It is used to express thepieces of tape, or worsted lace, whichare upon the arms of non-commissionedofficers and corporals, to distinguishthem from the privates.

SLASHED, cut in stripes, or lines.Hence, dashed sleeves and pockets,which are peculiar to the British cavalry,when the officers or men wear longcoats.

SLASHERS, a nickname which wasgiven, during the American war, tothe 28 th regiment of foot, and whichtook its origin from the following cir-cumstance:—One Walker, a magistrate,in Canada , having, during a severewinter, with great inhumanity refusedto give comfortable billets to the womenbelonging to the 28 th, and some ofthem having perished in consequence ofthe inclemency of the season, so greatwas the resentment of the corps, thatsome officers dressed themselves likesavages, entered his house whilst he wassitting with his family, danced roundthe table, and suddenly pulling himback upon his chair, cut off both hisears. They instantly disappeared; norwas the deed discovered until after theirdeparture. From this circumstance, andin consequence of various intrepid ac-tions which the 28 th performed duringthe course of the war, the men ob-tained the name of Slashers. Then-conduct in Egypt , &c. has confirmedthis character for intrepidity; so thata recruit no sooner joins the 28 th, orSlashers , than he instantly feels himselfequal to the most desperate enterprize;daring to do what some scarce dare tothink.

SLATE, in military architecture, akind of bluish fossile stone, very softwhen dug out of the quarry, and there-fore easily slit, or sawed into thin longsquares, to serve instead of tiles for the

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covering of all kinds of military build-*ings, &c.

SLAUGHTER, destruction by thesword, bayonet, and fire-arms.

SLEDGE, or sledge hammer, (grosmarteau, Fr.) a smith’s large iron-headed hammer, to he used with bothbands in beating out iron upon theanvil.

Si. edge, a sort of carriage withoutwheels, upon which a plough, or otherweighty things, may be laid. It alsosignifies a machine, on which traitorsare usually drawn to the place of exe-cution. It means likewise a genteelcarriage without wheels, which is usedby the nobility and gentry in cold cli-mates, to divert themselves in winterupon the snow. Likewise a machinewhich is hired by travellers in theNorth of Europe .

The Dutch have a sort of sledgeupon which they can carry any burthenby land. It consists of a plank a footand a half broad, and the length of thekeel of a moderate ship, raised a littlebehind, and hollow in the middle, sothat the sides go a little aslope, and arefurnished with holes to receive pins;the rest is quite even.

SLEEPEII, in architecture, is theoblique rafter that lies in a gutter.

SLEEPERS, the undermost timbersof a gun or mortar-battery. Smalljoists, or beams of wood, which arelaid over a foundation, for boards, &c.to be placed upon them. See Plat-form.

SLEETS are the parts of a mortargoing from the chamber to the trun-nions, to strengthen that part.

A SLIDER, a small leathern loopwhich runs upon the cur!) bridle, andserves to ease the hand.

SLIDING, passing without difficultyor obstruction, easily removed.

Sliding, in mechanics, a motionwhen the same point of a body, movingalong a surface, describes a line on thatsurface.

Sliding of courage, an obsolete term,signifying easily daunted.

Sliding knot, a running knot whichis made in a rope, for the purpose ofbeing stopped when required.

Sliding rule, } mathematical instru-

Sliding scale, ) ments to he usedwithout compasses in gauging.

SLING, a leathern strap which is at-tached to a musket, and serves to sup-

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