Part 401

RAPPORTEUR, Fr. in geometry, an instrument made in the figure of a half-circle, and divided into one hundred and eighty degrees. We call it a protractor. It is used for the purpose of ascertaining the openings in angles, and to take plans upon paper.

RAREFACTION, the extension of the parts of a body, by which it is made to take up more room than it did before. It is essentially connected with gunnery; for in proportion to the rapid combustion and consequent rarefaction of air, produced by the ignition of gunpowder confined in the chamber of a gun, so will be the force of expulsion with which the charge is propelled.

RAS, Fr. Every barge and vessel, &c. which is without any deck or upward covering, is called by the French batiment ras.

RASANTE, Fr. See LIGNE RASANTE.

RASANT, RAZANT, in fortification, rasant flank, or line, is that part of the curtain or flank whence the shot projected raze or glance along the surface of the opposite bastion.

RASE, Fr. Pitch and tar mixed with tow for the purpose of caulking a ship.

RASLE, Fr. This word is used in some parts of France to signify rafter, and means the same as chevron.

RASALDAR, Ind. the commander of Rasallah, which is ten thousand horsemen armed.

RASSEMBLER, Fr. to collect together.

RASSEMBLER des troups, Fr. to call troops or forces together.

RASSEMBLER les debris d’une armée, Fr. to collect together the broken parts, or scattered remnants of an army. It is likewise used with the personal pronoun, viz. Tous les soldats dispersés se rassemblerent autour du drapeau. All the soldiers or troops that had been dispersed, gathered together round the standard or colors.

RASSEMBLER les forces d’un cheval, to put a horse well upon his haunches.

RASSIS, Fr. Stale; as pain rassis, stale bread.

RASSURER, Fr. to restore confidence, to encourage, to invigorate. Quelques soldats commencionent à s’ébranler, quand l’exemple de leur capitaine les rassura. Some soldiers began to give way, when the example of their captain inspired them with fresh confidence.

RAT, Fr. literally means rat. It is used in a figurative sense, viz. Une arme à feu a pris un rat. A musquet has missed fire.

RAT. Fr. a sort of floating platform made of planks which are tied together upon two or three masts. It is used in caulking ships, &c.

RATAN, a cane used by serjeants of companies, in the British service in drilling the men, and with which, in other countries, the non-commissioned officers and privates, are beaten for slight offences; the Austrian discipline was thus conducted, till they have been beaten out of their manhood and self-respect. The Prussians abolished this barbarous custom after the battle of Jena.

RATELIER, Fr. a rack used in armories, &c. for the purpose of keeping firearms arranged in proper order.

RATER, Fr. to miss fire. Son pistolet a rate. His pistol has missed fire.

RATER likewise means, figuratively, to be unsuccessful in an application. Il a rate sa charge. He did not get the commission.

RATES of subsistence, See PAY.

RATION, a certain allowance which is given in bread, &c. or forage when troops are on service, for an officer or soldier in the British service.

Complete Ration of the small species.

Flour, or bread 1¹⁄₂ lbs. Beef 1 Or pork ¹⁄₂ Peas ¹⁄₄ pint. Butter, or cheese 1 oz. Rice 1 oz.

When the small species are not issued, 1¹⁄₂ lbs. of flour or bread, with 1¹⁄₂ lbs. of beef, or 10 oz. of pork, forms a complete ration: or 3 lbs. of beef; or 2 lbs. of cheese; or half a pound of rice, forms a complete ration.

At sea the ration is different. The following table contains the allowance for six soldiers, or four seamen on board of ship, for each day in the week. Women are provisioned at a half and children at one fourth of a soldier’s allowance, but receive no rum.

+----------+------+--------------+--------------------+ | | |Beer, gallons,| | | | |or half pints | | | Days of | |of spirits, or| Beef, | | the Week.|Bread.|pints of wine.| pieces of 8 lbs. | +----------+------+--------------+--------------------+ | | lb. | | | |Sunday, | 4 | 4 | -- | |Monday, | 4 | 4 | -- | |Tuesday, | 4 | 4 | 1 | |Wednesday,| 4 | 4 |or 6lbs. of flour | |Thursday, | 4 | 4 |or ¹⁄₂lb. of suet | |Friday, | 4 | 4 |and 1lb. of raisins.| |Saturday, | 4 | 4 | 1 | | | | | or as above. | +----------+------+--------------+--------------------+

+----------+------+-----+--------+-------+-------+--------+ | | | | | | | | | | Pork,|Pints| | lbs. | lbs. | | | Days of |pieces| of | Do. | of | of | | | the Week.| 4 lb.|peas.|oatmeal.|butter.|cheese.|Vinegar.| +----------+------+-----+--------+-------+-------+--------+ | | | | | | | | |Sunday, | 1 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | 1 | |Monday, | -- | -- | 4 | ¹⁄₂ | 1 | quart | |Tuesday, | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | per | |Wednesday,| -- | 2 | 4 | ¹⁄₂ | 1 | week. | |Thursday, | 1 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | | |Friday, | -- | 2 | 4 | ¹⁄₂ | 1 | | |Saturday, | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | | | | | | | | | | +----------+------+-----+--------+-------+-------+--------+