Page 440 - (DK) Smithsinian - Military History: The Definitive Visual Guide to the Objects of Warfare

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Y GLOSSARY
GLOSSAR Adze An axlike weapon on Bayonet A blade designed to fit Chaff Pieces of metal or plastic Electronic countermeasure Galleon A square-rigged,

into, over, under, or around the
released into the air—usually by
three-masted sailing ship in use
which the blade is at a right
An electronic device designed
between the 16th and 18th centuries.
angle to the shaft.
muzzle end of a firearm, enabling it
to disrupt enemy radar or sonar.
aircraft—to disrupt enemy radar.
Afterburner A component in
a jet engine that burns additional to be used as a close-combat weapon. Chain gun A machine-gun that loads Elevator A hinged surface on Gauntlets Armored gloves.
Besagew A round plate of
and fires cartridges via an externally
an aircraft’s wing that controls
fuel with the exhaust gases to armor used to protect the powered chain, rather than recoil. the aircraft’s vertical orientation. Gimbal A device that keeps
increase thrust. armpit. Also known as a rondel. a ship’s compasses horizontal
Chamber The part of a firearm Elevon A control surface on an despite the ship’s movements.
Aileron A hinged surface on Blunderbuss A muzzle-loading from which the cartridge is fired. aircraft’s wing that combines the
an aircraft’s wing that controls the firearm with a short, flared muzzle. functions of an aileron and an elevator. Glaive A European staff weapon
aircraft’s horizontal orientation. Chape See scabbard. consisting of a single-edged blade
Bolt action (rifle) A firearm with Elliptical wing An aircraft attached to the end of a pole.
Armet A helmet developed a manually operated bolt that, in Chasseur A French light wing design that minimizes drag.
in 15th-century Europe. one action, extracts a spent cartridge infantry, or light cavalry, soldier Gorget An armored collar
case and chambers a fresh one. trained for rapid action. Enfilade Gunfire directed at designed to protect the throat.
Arquebus A muzzle-loading an enemy’s flank.
firearm used between the 15th Bore The internal diameter of a Coaxial gun A secondary GPMG General-purpose
and 17th centuries, which was gun barrel—traditionally the number tank armament, used alongside Escort carrier A merchant ship machine-gun.
a forerunner of the 18th- of rounds it was able to take that the primary long gun. converted during World War II
century musket. could be cast from 1lb (454g) of lead. to carry aircraft. It carried 6–35 Greave Armor that protects
Composite bow A bow made aircraft, far fewer than the larger the leg from knee to ankle.
Arrestor wire A cable used on Bow The front of a ship or a boat. of multiple layers, combining fleet carrier.
aircraft carriers to decelerate wood with bone, horn, or sinew. Gunport A square hole cut
an aircraft as it lands on deck. Breech The rear part of the bore Extractor The moving part of a into the side of a sailing warship
of a firearm or artillery piece. Corbel An arched stone firearm that removes spent casings through which guns are fired.
Assault rifle A magazine- structure supporting the from the chamber after firing.
fed automatic rifle that uses Brigade Three infantry or higher parts of a castle’s walls. Half-track A vehicle with
an intermediate cartridge. tank battalions. Falconet A type of light wheels at the front and tank-style
Corps A military group of medieval cannon. caterpillar tracks at the back.
Automatic weapon A firearm Brigandine A type of medieval two to three divisions.
that will load and fire continually body armor made of small metal Fauld A skirt of armor that Hanger A sword with a short,
when the trigger is pressed. plates riveted to a textile covering. Corvette A small, lightly protects the waist and hips. wide blade, often used at sea.
armed ship.
Auxiliaries Additional troops Broadside The simultaneous Field gun Artillery designed Hauberk A thigh-length mail
that support the main body of an discharge of some or all of the Couter A plate or piece to be portable rather than fixed. coat or shirt.
army; troop support of any kind. guns on one side of a warship. of articulated armor that
protects the elbow. Firestep A step built or cut Head-up display A transparent
Aventail A curtain of mail that Bullpup A type of rifle with a firing into the wall of a trench to allow data screen that can be viewed
covers the neck and shoulders. mechanism set back in the shoulder Crenel An open space or soldiers to fire over the edge. looking forward out of an aircraft.
stock, allowing for a normal-length notch in a battlement or wall.
Ballista A Roman missile weapon barrel in a relatively short weapon. Firing pin The part of a firing Heavy cruiser A class of
designed for siege warfare. Crinet Armor that protects mechanism used in certain warship that is smaller than a
Burgonet An open-faced helmet a horse’s neck. firearms and explosive devices battleship; its main armament
Barb A spur on an arrowhead used widely in the 16th century. to detonate the charge. is usually 8in guns.
that makes it difficult to remove Crossbow A mechanical bow
the arrow once it is embedded. Butt The part of a rifle held to that shoots wooden or metal bolts. First-rate ship The designation Heavy machine-gun A
the shoulder; the part of a pistol used by the British Royal Navy machine-gun chambered for a
Barbette An armored held in the hand. Crossguard See quillons. for the largest ships of the line, round of larger-than-rifle caliber,
structure protecting a cannon its smaller vessels being classed usually 12.7mm; a machine-gun
or artillery piece. Caliber The internal diameter Cuirassier A cavalryman named as second- or third-rate. fired from a fixed mount.
of a weapon’s barrel; also used to after the metal breast- and back-
Barbuta A visorless steel helmet, describe specific cartridge types. plate (or “cuirass”) that he wore. Flanchards Armor to Hilt The handheld part of
which was a form of sallet, first protect a horse’s flanks. a sword, including the grip,
produced in the 15th century. Capital ship The most powerful Cuisse Medieval armor that guard, and pommel.
class of warship in a navy. protected the thigh. Flash suppressor/hider A
Bardiche An Eastern European device that reduces the flash caused Horsepower A unit of power
staff weapon with a long, Carbine A short-barreled rifle Dao A Chinese weapon with by gases burnt on firing a gun. equal to the energy required to
cleaver-type blade. or musket, typically of a smaller caliber a single edge, used for slashing. raise 550lb (250kg) 1ft (30cm)
than the rifle, first designed for cavalry. Fleet carrier An aircraft in one second.
Barding Armor for horses. Destroyer A fast, lightly carrier intended to operate
Carrack A three- or four-masted armored vessel armed with with the main fleet of a navy. Howitzer A high-angle artillery
Baselard A late-medieval sailing ship developed in Europe in guns and anti-submarine weapons. piece used for destroying
short sword. the 15th century. Flintlock A firing mechanism fortifications and trench systems.
Dirk A dagger traditionally in which a flint strikes a steel
Basinet A medieval helmet Carronade A short-barreled, used by naval officers. surface, creating sparks that Hydropneumatic recoil
worn with a visor. short-range cannon developed by ignite the charge. A recoil system with a gas-charged
Carron Ironworks, Scotland, c.1770. Discharger cup A cup fixed shock absorber, used in modern,
Battalion A military unit of to the end of a rifle to accept Frigate An 18th- or 19th- quick-firing mounted guns.
between 300 and 1,200 soldiers. Cartridge The package that grenades or missiles for firing. century warship with two full
contains the projectile and decks; a 20th-century warship Iklwa A flat-bladed Zulu stabbing
Battery A group of artillery propellent used by a firearm. Dragoon A military unit trained with anti-submarine capability. spear, also known as an assegai.
weapons—usually four to eight. to fight on horseback or on foot.
Casemate A fortified structure Fuller A groove cut into a Incendiary shell/round A
Battlecruiser A class of designed as a shelter for troops; Dreadnought A turbine- blade to make it lighter. projectile designed to start a fire.
heavily armed ship developed an artillery enclosure on a warship. powered battleship class naval
as a type of fast battleship in craft armed with heavy guns Fulminate A type of explosive Inertial navigation A high-
the years before World War I. Catapult (aircraft carrier) of uniform caliber. that is sensitive to shock. tech navigation system that uses
A track-and-piston system used dead-reckoning to calculate the
Battleship The largest type to launch aircraft from the deck Drone A remotely piloted aircraft Fuselage The main body of position of a moving object without
of armed ship in a fleet. of an aircraft carrier. typically used for reconnaissance. an aircraft. requiring external references.