What does espontoon?

What does espontoon?

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer espontoon. (Fr.). A sort of half pike, about 3 feet in length, used in the 17th century. The colonels of corps as well as the captains of companies always used them in action. This weapon was also used by officers in the British army.

What was a spontoon used for?

During the Napoleonic Wars, the spontoon was used by sergeants to defend the colours of a battalion or regiment from cavalry attack. The spontoon was one of few polearms that stayed in use long enough to make it into American history. As late as the 1890s, the spontoon accompanied marching soldiers.

Why did sergeants carry spears?

This was a weapon of defence, discipline and authority. A long wooden shaft was topped with a steel spear point, just below which was a short metal cross bar. One intended use was to protect the regimental colours (King’s colour and Regimental colour) from being attacked and captured.

What does the word gorget mean?

Definition of gorget 1 : a piece of armor protecting the throat — see armor illustration. 2a : an ornamental collar. b : a part of a wimple covering the throat and shoulders. c : a specially colored patch on the throat especially : a bright patch of feathers on the throat of a bird and especially a hummingbird.

How was the halberd invented?

Halberd was a type of pole-arm weapon which was invented by the Swiss soldiers in the 14th century. It combined an axe, a hook and a pike at one end of a long wooden shaft which was wielded by the soldier.

Is a glaive a spear?

As nouns the difference between spear and glaive is that spear is a long stick with a sharp tip used as a weapon for throwing or thrusting, or anything used to make a thrusting motion while glaive is a weapon formerly used, consisting of a large blade fixed on the end of a pole, whose edge was on the outside curve.

What is a Indian gorget?

Shell gorgets are a Native American art form of polished, carved shell pendants worn around the neck. The gorgets are frequently engraved, and are sometimes highlighted with pigments, or fenestrated (pierced with openings).

Is a bayonet legal?

Many manufacturers do not make them with bayonet lugs. The Assault weapons ban in 1994 issued that new firearms could not have bayonet lugs. In the context of that law, the National Rifle Association deemed telescoping stocks a “cosmetic feature”. It was allowed to sunset, and bayonets are legal once again.

What does espontoon stand for?

Today, a spontoon (or espontoon, as it is referred to in the manual of arms) is carried by the drum major of the U.S. Army ‘s Fife and Drum Corps, a ceremonial unit of the 3rd US Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) . ^ “Definition of ESPONTOON”. www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 3 May 2019.

What is a spontoon and why was it used?

The spontoon was one of few polearms that stayed in use long enough to make it into American history. As late as the 1890s, the spontoon could still be seen accompanying marching soldiers. The American Militia Acts of 1792 specified that commissioned officers were to be armed with an espontoon.

What is the meaning of espantoon?

The word itself derives from that of a pole weapon, the spontoon, which was carried by infantry officers of the British Army during the Revolutionary period. Since then, the espantoon has been considered a symbol of the “policeman’s office and dignity”.

Did Lewis and Clark use an espontoon?

As late as the 1890s, the spontoon could still be seen accompanying marching soldiers. The American Militia Acts of 1792 specified that commissioned officers were to be armed with an espontoon. Lewis and Clark brought spontoons on their expedition with the Corps of Discovery.