Part 438

SAIGNEE de saucisson, Fr. The act of cutting off a part of a linen saucisson, which is filled with gunpowder, for the purpose of introducing the moine or cylindrical tube, in order to set fire to a mine.

SAIGNER une piéce, Fr. An expression used in artillery when a piece of ordnance, which is mounted on a carriage, has its breech carried away by the violence of the explosion. This sometimes happens when the discharge is made directly downwards, or from top to bottom.

SAIGNER une Riviére, Fr. To turn the current of a river, by partially drawing off some of its water.

SAILLANT, Fr. Salient. See SALIENT ANGLE. This word, as well as Saillie, signifies generally any part of a building that does not run up perpendicularly from its base, but projects or slopes out.

St. GEORGE’s Guard, a guard of the broadsword or sabre, used in warding off blows directed against the head. See BROADSWORD.

La SAINTE barbe, Fr. The gunner’s room.

SAKER, an old word for cannon. It carried a shot of five pounds and a quarter weight: the diameter of the bore was three inches and ⁹⁄₁₆ths; the length eight or nine feet. See CANNON.

SALADE, Fr. This word literally means sallad. It likewise signifies a head piece. The French use it frequently in a figurative sense, viz.

Donner une SALADE à quelqu’un, Fr. To give any one a good dressing.

Régiment de SALADE, Fr. A term of ridicule which the French frequently applied to small new-raised corps; such as independent companies which were levied for rank only.

SALE. State of being venal; price.

SALE of Commissions. The sale and purchase of commissions is of general usage in the British service. Commissions in the British army are sold for various purposes; sometimes to indemnify individuals for their original purchase; sometimes, as was shewn in 1809, as the fund for paying princely prostitutes.

SALIENT angle, in fortification, that whose points turn from the centre of the place. See FORTIFICATION.

SALLE d’armes, Fr. A fencing school.

SALLE d’armes dans un magazin, Fr. An armory or particular room where fire-arms, &c. are regularly disposed. Of this description is the armory in the Tower.

SALLESEE, Ind. Arbitration.

SALLIS, Ind. An arbitrator.

SALLY. See SIEGE.

SALLY-ports, or postern-gates, as they are sometimes called, are those underground passages, which lead from the inner to the outward works; such as from the higher flank to the lower, to the tenailles, or the communication from the middle of the curtain to the ravelin. When they are constructed for the passage of men only, they are made with steps at the entrance and outlet. They are about six feet wide, and 8¹⁄₂ feet high. There is also a gutter or sewer made under the sally-ports that are in the middle of the curtains, in order that the water which runs down the streets may pass into the ditch; but this can only be done when they are wet ditches. When sally-ports serve to carry guns through them for the out-works, instead of making them with steps, they must have a gradual slope, and be eight feet wide.

SALA-MA-NAZEER, Ind. The salutation of victory.

SALOOTER, Ind. A farrier.

SALOOTEREE, Ind. The business of a farrier.

SALTING-boxes, in artillery, are boxes of about four inches high, and 2¹⁄₂ in diameter, for holding mealed powder, to sprinkle the fuzes of shells, that they may take fire from the blast of the powder in the chamber; but it has been found that the fuze takes fire as well without this operation, so that these boxes are now laid aside.

SALTPETRE, Fr. See NITRE.

SALTPETRE, or nitre, the principal ingredient for making gunpowder; it is found in great plenty in some of the East-India provinces, and in some parts of Europe. The necessities of the French revolution, when attacked by all Europe, forced the French to have recourse to their chemists, to supply nitre which could not be obtained from abroad; they scraped the walls and floors of their cellars and vaults, and out of the washed earth extracted nitre; they also extracted nitre from vegetable substances, such as the horse chesnut. In some natural caves discovered in Kentucky, vast quantities, sufficient for every demand of war and commerce can be procured. See GUNPOWDER, NITRE, &c.

SALPETRIERE, Fr. A particular spot in an arsenal where there are pits, &c. for the purpose of making saltpetre.

SALPETRIERS, Fr. Men employed in making saltpetre.

SALVE, Fr. A salute, a volley. It generally means a discharge of heavy ordnance and other firearms in concert.