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ank of colonel, also, all adjutants, inspectors, quartermasters, commissaries, engineers, ordnance officers, paymasters, physicians, signal officers, judge advocates; also, the noncommissioned assistants of the above officers.

wear of the working gauges. (c) (Railroads) See Note under Gauge, n., 5. -- Star gauge (Ordnance), an instrument for measuring the diameter of the bore of a cannon at any point of its length. -- Steam gauge, an instrument for measuring the pressure of steam, as in a boiler. -- Tide gauge, an instrument for determin…

A conical chamber at the breech of the bore in heavy ordnance, especially in mortars; -- named after the inventor.

are smaller guns, for hand use, and are called small arms. Larger guns are called cannon, ordnance, fieldpieces, carronades, howitzers, etc. See these terms in the Vocabulary. As swift as a pellet out of a gunne When fire is in the powder runne. Chaucer. The word gun was in use in England for an engine to cast a thing…

A warrant officer in the navy having charge of the ordnance on a vessel.

nce which comprehends the theory of projectiles, and the manner of constructing and using ordnance.

gine, one the piston of which works horizontally. -- Horizontal fire (Mil.), the fire of ordnance and small arms at point-blank range or at low angles of elevation. -- Horizontal force (Physics), the horizontal component of the earth's magnetic force. -- Horizontal line (Descriptive Geometry & Drawing), a constructi…

In ordnance, a strengthening band surrounding and reënforcing the tube in which the charge is fired.

A small portable piece of ordnance, mounted on a swivel. [Written also gingal and jingall.] [India]

An instrument which conveys the charge of a piece of ordnance and forces it home.

Either one of two handles on the back of a piece of ordnance.

An ancient form of ordnance, the caliber of which was about three inches. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

A short piece of ordnance, used for throwing bombs, carcasses, shells, etc., at high angles of elevation, as 45º, and even higher; - - so named from its resemblance in shape to the utensil above described. Mortar bed (Mil.), a framework of wood and iron, suitably hollowed out to receive the breech and trunnions of a mo…

The opening of a piece of ordnance, through which it is discharged.

measure of length, being two inches and a quarter, or the sixteenth of a yard. Nail ball (Ordnance), a round projectile with an iron bolt protruding to prevent it from turning in the gun. -- Nail plate, iron in plates from which cut nails are made. -- On the nail, in hand; on the spot; immediately; without delay or t…

To stop or close, as an opening; specif., (Ordnance),

Ordnance; cannon. [Obs.] Shak.

A piece of ordnance, consisting of a number of musket barrels arranged so that a match or train may connect with all their touchholes, and a discharge be secured almost or quite simultaneously.

ace occupied by the animals, wagons, pontoons, and materials of all kinds, as ammunition, ordnance stores, hospital stores, provisions, etc., when brought together; also, the objects themselves; as, a park of wagons; a park of artillery.

A term formerly applied to a short piece of chambered ordnance. [Written also paterero and peterero.]