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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



11 words match “GLACIS”

GLACIS n.
A gentle slope, or a smooth, gently sloping bank; especially (Fort.), that slope of earth which inclines from the covered way toward the exterior ground or country (see Illust. of Ravelin).
COUNTERSCARF n.
of the ditch; -- sometimes, the whole covered way, beyond the ditch, with its parapet and glacis; as, the enemy have lodged themselves on the counterscarp.
COUPURE n.
A passage cut through the glacis to facilitate sallies by the besieged. Wilhelm.
COVERED a.
ette along the top of the counterscarp and covered by an embankment whose slope forms the glacis. It gives the garrisonn an open line of communication around the works, and a standing place beyond the ditch. See Illust. of Ravelin.
CROTCHET n.
An indentation in the glacis of the covered way, at a point where a traverse is placed.
CROWN v.
To effect a lodgment upon, as upon the crest of the glacis, or the summit of the breach. To crown a knot (Naut.), to lay the ends of the strands over and under each other.
ECOUTE n.
One of the small galleries run out in front of the glacis. They serve to annoy the enemy's miners.
ESPLANADE n.
The glacis of the counterscarp, or the slope of the parapet of the covered way toward the country.
RIDGE n.
The highest portion of the glacis proceeding from the salient angle of the covered way. Stocqueler.
SAP n.
A narrow ditch or trench made from the foremost parallel toward the glacis or covert way of a besieged place by digging under cover of gabions, etc. Sap fagot (Mil.), a fascine about three feet long, used in sapping, to close the crevices between the gabions before the parapet is made. -- Sap roller (Mil.), a large ga…
TRENCH n.
structed (by a besieger) of gabions, fascines, earth, and the like, about half way up the glacis, in order to discover and enfilade the covered way. -- Trench plow, or Trench plough, a kind of plow for opening land to a greater depth than that of common furrows.