Part 123

EPERON, Fr. a spur.

EPICYCLOID, a curve formed by the revolution of the periphery of a circle along the convex or concave part of another circle.

EPIGNARE, Fr. a small piece of ordnance which does not exceed one pound in calibre.

EPREUVE, Fr. See PROOF.

EPROUVETTE, is a machine to prove the strength of gunpowder. There are different sorts of eprouvettes, according to the fancy of different nations who use them. Some raise a weight, and others throw a shot, to certain heights and distances.

EPTAGON. See HEPTAGON.

EQUANGULAR, having equal angles.

EQUATION, an expression of the same quantity in two dissimilar terms, but of equal value. See ALGEBRA.

EQUERRE, Fr. a sort of rule which is absolutely necessary to the miner in order to make his descent at right angles.

EQUERRY, the master of the horse. It likewise means any person who is appointed to attend horses.

EQUESTRIAN statue, the inanimate resemblance, in bronze, stone, or marble, of any person mounted on horseback.

EQUESTRIAN order, among the Romans, signified their knights or equites; as also their troopers or horsemen in the field; the first of which orders stood in contradistinction to the senators, as the last did to the foot; each of these distinctions was introduced into the state by state cunning.

EQUILIBRIUM, equality of weight or powder.

To EQUIP, to furnish an individual, a corps, or an army, with every thing that is requisite for military service, such as arms, accoutrements, uniforms, &c. &c.

EQUIPAGE, in a military sense, is all kinds of furniture made use of by the army; such as

Camp-EQUIPAGE, Field-EQUIPAGE, are tents, kitchen furniture, saddle horses, baggage waggons, bat horses, &c.

EQUIPMENT, the act of getting completely equipped, or supplied with every requisite for military service.

EQUITES, an order of equestrian knights introduced among the Romans by Romulus.

ESCADRON, Fr. Squadron. This term is derived from the Italian scara or scadra, corrupted from the Latin quadrum. Froissart was the first French writer that made use of the word escadron to signify a troop of horse drawn out in order of battle. The term escadron is more ancient than battalion. See SQUADRON.

ESCALADE. See SCALADE.

ESCALADE d’un soldat was used in the old French service to express the act of a soldier who got into a town, camp, or quarters, by scaling the ramparts, &c. When discovered in the act of so doing, the centinels had orders to fire at him; and if apprehended, he was tried and condemned to death.

ESCALE, Fr. a machine used to apply the petard.

ESCARMOUCHE, Fr. See SKIRMISH.

ESCARPE, is the outward slope or talus of the rampart.

ESCARPMENT. See DECLIVITY.

ESCORT, in the art of war. See CONVOY.

ESCORTS, Fr. See CONVOY.

ESCOUADE, Fr. in the old French service generally meant the third part of a company of foot or a detachment. Companies were divided in this manner for the purpose of more conveniently keeping the tour of duty among the men.