Part 493

THEORETICAL, (Théorique, Fr.) What appertains to theory.

THEORY, (Théorie, Fr.) The speculative part of any particular science, in which truths are demonstrated without being practically followed. Or more distinctly; a theory is an opinion formed in the mind, that certain effects must arise from certain combinations of matters or circumstances; the matters or circumstances being known, the result or consequence not yet demonstrated by experiment.

School of THEORY. In order to secure to the army intelligent and well informed officers, it has been wisely suggested, that there should be a school of military theory in each regiment. The persons selected for this purpose are to pass an examination before competent persons, whenever the vicinity of regimental quarters will allow them to attend.

Order of MARIA THERESA. A military order of knighthood, which was founded and established by the house of Austria on the 18th of June, 1757, and was distinguished by the name of the reigning queen and empress, being called the Imperial Military Order of Maria Theresa.

THERMES, Fr. Small barges or boats in which persons formerly bathed.

THERMOMETER, (Thermometre, Fr.) An instrument for measuring the heat of the air, or of any matter.

THERMOSCOPE, (Thermoscope, Fr.) An instrument by which the degrees of heat are discovered; a thermometer.

THIEF. Any person that robs another. The character of a thief is of so foul a cast in a military life, that the least imputation of dishonesty incapacitates either officer or soldier from remaining in the service.

Soldier’s THIGH. A well-known part of the human frame which takes its peculiar military application from the notorious poverty of army men in general. Hence, Soldier’s Thigh figuratively means an empty purse, or, speaking familiarly, a pair of breeches that fit close and look smooth, because the pockets have nothing in them.

THILL. The shafts of a waggon; hence, the horse which goes between the shafts is called the thill horse, or thiller.

To THIN. To make less numerous. As to thin the ranks by a heavy discharge of ordnance and firearms.

THIRTEEN. A shilling is so called in Ireland; thirteen pence of that country’s currency being only equal to twelve pence English.

THREE DEEP. Soldiers drawn up in three ranks, consisting of front, centre, and rear, are said to be three deep. It is the fundamental order of the infantry, in which they should always form and act in close order, and for which all their operations and movements are calculated.

THREES. A term used in the telling off in squadron, because the front of three horses in rank, is equal to the length of one horse from head to tail.

Ranks by threes. Each half squadron is told off by threes. See CAVALRY, Mil. Library.

To THROW. To force any thing from one place to another; thus artillerists say, to throw a shot or shell, or so many shot or shells were thrown.

THRUST. Hostile attack with any pointed weapon, as in fencing. When one party makes a push with his sword to wound his adversary with the point it is called a thrust.

THUMBSTALL. A piece of leather which every careful soldier carries with him to secure the lock of his musquet from moisture.

THUNDERING-legion, was a legion in the Roman army consisting of Christian soldiers, who, in the expedition of the emperor Marcus Aurelius against the Sarmatæ, Quadi, and Marcomanni, saved the whole army, then ready to perish from thirst, by procuring, by their prayers, a very plentiful shower thereon, and at the same time a furious storm of hail, mixed with lightning and thunderbolts, on the enemy.

This is the account commonly given by ecclesiastical historians, and the whole history is engraven in bass-relievos on the Antonine column.

TIDEGATE. See SLUICE-GATE.

TIERCE. A thrust in fencing, delivered at the outside of the body over the arm.

TILE, TYLE, in military building, a sort of thin, factitious, laminated brick, used on the roofs of houses; or more property a kind of clayey earth, kneaded and moulded of a just thickness, dried and burnt in a kiln, like a brick, and used in the covering and paving of different kinds of military and other buildings. The best brick earth should only be made into tiles.

The tiles for all sorts of uses may now be comprised under 7 heads, viz. 1. The plain-tile, for covering of houses, which is flat and thin. 2. The plain-tile, for paving, which is also flat, but thicker; and its size 9, 10, or 12 inches. 3. The pan-tile, which is also used for covering of buildings, and is hollow, and crooked, or bent, somewhat in the manner of an S. 4. The Dutch glazed pan-tile. 5. The English glazed pan-tile. 6. The gutter-tile, which is made with a kind of wings. 7. The hip, ridge, or corner-tile.

Plain-TILES, are best when they are firmest, soundest, and strongest. Some are duskier, and others ruddier, in color. The dusky-colored are generally the strongest. These tiles are not laid in mortar, but pointed only in the inside.

Paving-TILES, are made of a more sandy earth than the common or plain-tiles: the materials for these last must be absolutely clay, but for the others a kind of loam is used. These are made thicker and larger than the common roof-tiles; and, when care has been taken in the choice of the earth, and the management of the fire, they are very regular and beautiful.

Pan-TILES, when of the best kind, are made of an earth not much unlike that of the paving-tiles, and often of the same; but the best sort of all is a pale-colored loam that is less sandy; they have about the same degree of fire given them in the baking, and they come out nearly of the same color. These tiles are laid in mortar, because the roof being very flat, and many of them warped in the burning, will not cover the building so well as that no water can pass between them.

Dutch glazed Pan-TILES, get the addition of glazing in the fire. Many kinds of earthly matter running into a glassy substance in great heat, is a great advantage to them, preserving them much longer than the common pan-tiles, so that they are very well worth the additional charge that attends the using them.