FOR TIFICA TION. 57 



Dem'i-Gorg'e. — That part of the polygon which reaches from 



the cuitain to the angle of the polygon. 

 Embrasure. — An opening in a wall or parapet through which 



cannon are pointed and discharged. 

 Enceinte'. — The wall or rampart which surrounds a place, 



sometimes composed of bastions and curtains. 

 Envelope. — A mound of earth raised to cover some weak part 



of the works. 

 Epaule'ment. — A side work, or work to cover sidewise, made 



of gabions, fascines, or bags of earth. 

 Escarp'ment. — The exterior surface of the revetment. 

 Esplanade'. — An open, level space of ground, separating the 



citadel of a fortress from the town, and intended to pre- 

 vent any person approaching the town without being seen 



from the citadel. 

 Fas'cine. — A fagot, a bundle of rods or small sticks of wood, 



bound at both ends and in the middle ; used in raising bat- 

 teries, filling ditches, strengthening ramparts, and making 



parapets. 

 Flank. — That part of a bastion which reaches from the curtain 



to the base, or any part of a work that defends another 



work along the outside of its parapet. 

 Fleche. — A field-work usually at the foot of a glacis, consisting 



of two faces forming a salient angle pointing outward from 



the position taken. 

 Fosse. — A ditch, commonly full of water, lying between the 



scarp and the counterscarp. 

 Fougasse'. — A little mine, charged with powder, and covered 



with stones or earth ; sometimes dug outside of the works, 



to defend them, and sometimes beneath, to destroy them 



by explosion. 

 Fourneau'. — The chamber of a mine in which the powder is 



lodged. 

 Fraise. — Palisades placed in juxtaposition, either horizontally 



or slightly inclined. 

 Ga'bion. — A hollow cylinder of wicker-work, resembling a 



basket, having no bottom, filled with earth, and serving 



to shelter men from an enemy's fire. 

 Gabionnade'. — A parapet hastily formed by gabions. 

 Ga'zons. — IMasses of fresh earth, covered with grass, used to 



line the outsides of ramparts, parapets, etc. 

 Gla'cis. — That mass of earth which serves as a parapet to the 



c* 



