Part 491

Perdre du TERRAIN, Fr. To lose ground.

Menager son TERRAIN, Fr. To make the most of your ground. It is likewise used in a figurative sense, viz. Un homme est fort quand il est sur son terrain, Fr. A man always speaks with great confidence when he is thoroughly master of the subject.

TERRAIN du camp, Fr. The ground within the lines of encampment.

Lever le TERRAIN, Fr. To reconnoitre, to take a survey of ground.

Chicaner le TERRAIN, Fr. To dispute the ground; to fight it inch by inch.

Tenir un grand TERRAIN, Fr. To take up much ground.

TERRASS. See MORTAR.

TERRASSE, Fr. Terrace, platform.

Contre-TERRASSE, Fr. A terrace that is raised above another.

TERRASSER, Fr. To throw down, to rout completely.

TERRASSIER, Fr. This word is used among the French not only to signify the person who undertakes to see heaps of earth removed, &c. for any specific purpose, but likewise the man who actually carries it.

TERRE, la TERRE, Fr. Earth, the earth.

TERRE-PLEIN, Fr. See FORTIFICATION.

TERRER, se Terrer, Fr. To hide under ground. The French say, des gens de guerre se sont bien terres; meaning thereby, that they had thrown up entrenchments with earth, so as to be covered from the enemy’s fire. Terrer une artifice, to cover the head of any fire-work with earth.

TERRES-Amendees, Fr. Earths that have been used in the cleansing of saltpetre. Saltpetre-men call these earths Terres reanimees.

TERREUR, Fr. Fear, apprehension.

TERREUR panique, Fr. See PANIC.

TERTIATE, in gunnery, is to examine the thickness of the metal of a piece of artillery, in order to judge of its strength. This is usually done with a pair of calliper compasses.

TERTIATING a piece of ordnance, is to find whether it has its due thickness, at the vent, trunnions, and neck; if the trunnions and neck are in their due order, and the chase straight, &c.

TERTRE, Fr. A small rising ground that stands unconnected with any other.

TESSONS, Fr. Potsherds.

TESTAMENT Militaire, Fr. Among the French, a will which is made in the presence of two witnesses only, and is not committed to paper.

TESTIMONY. Verbal declaration given upon oath or honor before any court martial. The testimony of a witness should neither be influenced nor interrupted, and the precise words used by him should be written down in the proceedings without any alteration.

TESTUDO, in the military art of the ancients, was a kind of cover or screen, which the soldiers of each company made themselves of their bucklers, by holding them up over their heads, and standing close to each other. This expedient served to shelter them from darts, stones, &c. thrown upon them, especially those from above, when they went to the assault.

TESTUDO, was also a kind of large wooden tower, which moved on several wheels, and was covered with bullocks’ hides: it served to shelter the soldiers when they approached the walls to mine them, or to batter them with rams.

TETE, Fr. Head.

TETE du Camp, Fr. The head of the camp, or the front ground which looks towards the country; and where troops bivouac.

TETE de la Sappe, Fr. Head of the sap.