7-Military Affairs

army

Armies {army} can have full-time professional soldiers {standing army} or trained part-time soldiers {reserve army}.

dog tag

Stamped or inscribed metal {dog tag} can be for identification.

peace pipe

Pipe {peace pipe} sharing can happen at peace ceremonies.

report of gun

explosion or gunfire noise {report, rifle}.

shell shock

Physical or mental shock {shell shock} can result from exposure to combat.

7-Military Affairs-Bugle

reveille

Bugle or drum calls {reveille} can wake up troops.

taps

Bugle calls {taps} can be for lights out or for funerals.

tattoo of bugle

Bugle calls {tattoo} can be calls to quarters.

7-Military Affairs-Buildings

armory

weapon storage building {armory}.

bartizan

Scottish and French overhanging corner turret {bartizan}.

billet

troop lodgings {billet, lodging}.

bivouac

field camp {bivouac}.

boot camp

training camp {boot camp}.

brig

prison {brig}.

gibbet

gallows {gibbet}.

mess as room

dining room {mess}.

Post Exchange

military general store {Post Exchange} (PX).

pup tent

two-person tent {pup tent}.

7-Military Affairs-Clothing

baldric

Chest straps {baldric} can hold sword or bugle.

bandoleer

Chest belts {bandoleer} can hold cartridges.

cat-o-nine-tails

Handle with nine knotted cords {cat-o-nine-tails} can be for whipping.

oak-leaf cluster

valor award {oak-leaf cluster}.

swagger stick

short cane with strap {swagger stick}.

7-Military Affairs-Drill

drill in army

repeated marching pattern {drill, army}.

present arms

Point weapon {present arms}.

7-Military Affairs-Flag

gonfalon

Banner {gonfalon} in frame, or bar with three points, can be for identification.

pennon

military-lance banner {pennon}.

standard as flag

flag {standard, flag}.

tricolor

French flag {tricolor}.

union jack

British flag {union jack}.

white flag for surrender

surrender indicator {white flag, surrender}.

7-Military Affairs-Law

armistice truce

Truces {armistice} can be for negotiating peace treaties.

Black Maria

police van {Black Maria}.

brevet

pilot certificate {brevet}.

civil war

War {civil war} can be between regions or groups in one country.

court-martial

military court run by officers {court-martial}.

drumhead court-martial

Informal and quick military trial {drumhead court-martial} can have predetermined outcome.

furlough

leave of absence {furlough}.

mutiny

rebellion against captain {mutiny}.

pillory

Wood boards {pillory} can have head and hand holes, to punish people.

selective service

draft system {selective service}.

7-Military Affairs-Protection

armorplate

protective metal sheet {armorplate}.

barricade

temporary barrier across route {barricade}.

battlement

fort-wall indented parapet {battlement}.

breastwork

chest-high temporary barrier {breastwork}.

bunker

ground fortification {bunker}.

citadel

Fortresses {citadel} can be on high ground near cities.

fastness

mountain fort {fastness}.

foxhole

Depressions {foxhole} can be dug in ground.

outwork

Earth or other barrier {outwork} can be outside better fortifications.

parapet

low embankment or wall {parapet}.

7-Military Affairs-Protection-Personal

breastplate

chest armor {breastplate}.

buckler

small round shield {buckler}.

chain mail

Upper body armor {chain mail} can have metal links or scales.

greave

Armor plate {greave} can go from knee to ankle.

hauberk

chain-mail tunic {hauberk}.

7-Military Affairs-Provisions

provisions

food {provisions}.

C ration

packaged meal {C ration}.

hardtack

hard flour and water biscuit {hardtack}.

K ration

prepared meal {K ration}.

materiel

military equipment and supplies {materiel}.

provender

provisions {provender}.

7-Military Affairs-Soldier

commando

raider {commando}.

conquistador

Spanish military leaders {conquistador} were in Mexico and Peru [1500 to 1600].

gendarme

French policeman {gendarme}.

guerrilla

raider {guerrilla}.

gunrunner

People {gunrunner} can smuggle weapons.

mercenary soldier

Soldiers {mercenary, soldier} hired to fight can be from another place or group.

7-Military Affairs-Soldier-Army

cadet

military-academy officer-training student {cadet}.

cavalier horseman

military horseman {cavalier, horseman}.

centurion

Roman-century member {centurion}.

chasseur

European light infantryman {chasseur, infantryman}.

chevalier

knight {chevalier}.

color guard

A small group {color guard} of finely dressed marching soldiers can transport flag.

conscript

draftee, or person compelled to serve {conscript}.

Cossack soldier

south-Russia military horseman {Cossack, horseman}.

doughboy

World War I American soldier {doughboy}.

dragoon

highly armed horseman {dragoon}.

GI

ground infantryman {GI}.

grenadier

regiment member {grenadier}.

hussar

European light cavalryman {hussar}.

janissary

Turkish guards {janissary} can be in sultan's personal service.

leatherneck

marine {leatherneck}.

legionnaire

French Foreign Legion member {legionnaire}.

medic

medical person {medic}.

musketeer

musket shooter {musketeer}.

paratrooper

parachute-using soldier {paratrooper}.

plebe

military-academy first-year person {plebe}.

scout

Soldiers {scout} can get information about area or enemy.

soldier of fortune

mercenary {soldier of fortune}.

storm trooper

Nazi militiaman {storm trooper}.

7-Military Affairs-Soldier-Army-Officer

aide-de-camp

officer assistant to higher officer {aide-de-camp, army}.

brigadier

officer above colonel {brigadier}.

chief of staff

division or higher leader {chief of staff}.

colonel

officer higher than lieutenant colonel {colonel}.

commandant

military-post or functional-group leader {commandant}.

commissioned officer

trained officer higher than warrant officer {commissioned officer}.

field marshal

highest-rank European officer {field marshal}.

lieutenant

Army officers {lieutenant} can be below captain. Navy officers can be below lieutenant commander.

major

officer above captain {major, army}.

provost marshal

military police commander {provost marshal}.

quartermaster

Army officers {quartermaster} can be for food, clothing, and equipment. Navy petty officers can be for navigation.

warrant officer

officer higher than non-commissioned officer but lower than commissioned officer {warrant officer}.

7-Military Affairs-Soldier-Army-Officer-Non-Commissioned

corporal

lowest non-commissioned officer {corporal}.

noncom

non-commissioned officer {noncom}.

non-commissioned officer

corporal or sergeant {non-commissioned officer} (NCO).

sergeant army

highest non-commissioned officer {sergeant}.

topkick

senior non-commissioned officer or master sergeant {topkick}.

7-Military Affairs-Soldier-Navy

ensign

lowest commissioned navy officer {ensign}, below lieutenant.

admiral

officer commanding fleet or navy {admiral}, second highest rank.

commander

naval officer higher than lieutenant commander {commander}.

commodore

most senior naval-squadron captain {commodore}, or officer below rear admiral.

petty officer

navy non-commissioned officer {petty officer}.

rear admiral

officer higher than captain {rear admiral}.

yeoman of the guard

navy clerical petty officer {yeoman of the guard}.

7-Military Affairs-Soldier-Groups

admiralty

naval court {admiralty}.

battalion

four infantry or artillery companies {battalion}.

brigade

several battalions {brigade}.

cavalry

military horsemen and horses, or armored vehicles and soldiers {cavalry}.

column

line of soldiers {column, soldier}.

corps

specialized military branch {corps, army}, such as Marine Corps.

division of soldiers

unit of corps {division, soldier}.

garrison soldiers

military-post soldiers {garrison, soldier}.

Gestapo

Nazi secret police {Gestapo}.

militia

local army {militia}|.

phalanx

10 rows of men with pikes {phalanx}.

platoon

Company units {platoon} can have two or more squads.

rear echelon

rear guard {rear echelon}.

rearguard action

fighting to secure retreat {rearguard action}.

reconnaissance

exploring area for military information {reconnaissance}.

regiment

two or more battalions {regiment}.

regular army

not a corps {regular army}.

shock troops

lead attackers {shock troops}.

squadron

Planes or vessels {squadron} can have two or more divisions.

7-Military Affairs-Strategy

ballistics

projectile structure, function, and effects {ballistics}.

containment

policy of keeping enemy within current borders {containment}.

field of honor

battlefield or dueling ground {field of honor}.

firing line

riflemen facing enemy {firing line}.

mailed fist

threat {mailed fist}.

militarism

policy of using military force {militarism}.

pincer

Soldiers can advance around right and left enemy flanks {pincer}.

stratagem

deceptive or surprise movement {stratagem}.

war game

practice battle {war game}.

7-Military Affairs-Weapon

armament

weapon {armament}.

arsenal

available weapons {arsenal}.

ballistic missile

Missiles {ballistic missile} can ascend under power and then glide on trajectory to target.

barb weapon

Backward points {barb on weapon} can be on weapons.

battleaxe

heavy ax {battleax} {battleaxe}.

bazooka

rocket firer {bazooka}.

brass knuckles

Metal shaped to fit over fingers {brass knuckles} can strike people.

caltrop

Sharp spikes, jacks, or spurs {caltrop} can be in ground to injure charging horses, as used by Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn.

flame-thrower

burning fuel shooter {flame-thrower}.

grenade

Small bombs {grenade, bomb} can have a fuse, to throw or launch.

guillotine

A falling blade can cut off heads {guillotine}.

mace as weapon

Handles can have a metal spiked ball {mace, weapon}.

megaton

Bombs can have same explosive power as one million tons of dynamite {megaton}.

range finder

Devices {range finder} can measure distance for artillery.

shrapnel

shell fragments or metal balls {shrapnel}.

7-Military Affairs-Weapon-Cannon

artillery

cannons {artillery}.

battery of cannon

cannon set {battery, gun}.

howitzer

high shooting cannon {howitzer}.

7-Military Affairs-Weapon-Holder

pillbox

roofed concrete hut for machine gun {pillbox}.

trunnion

Cylinders {trunnion} on middle cannon side can rest in U-shaped holders to pivot cannon up or down.

turret

Rotating tank tops {turret}, or ship domes, can contain large guns.

7-Military Affairs-Weapon-Munition

magazine

ammunition storage area {magazine}.

munitions

ammunition and guns {munitions}.

ordnance

weapons and ammunition {ordnance}.

powder horn

Cones {powder horn} can hold gunpowder.

powder keg

Barrels {powder keg} can hold gunpowder.

7-Military Affairs-Weapon-Vehicle

caisson

Ammunition boxes or ammunition wagons {caisson} can have two wheels and a horse.

half-track

Vehicles can have front wheels and front back caterpillar tracks {half-track}.

panzer

armed tank {panzer}.

7-Military Affairs-Weapon-Bow

ballista

Large crossbows {ballista} can throw large balls.

cross bow

Arrow holders with bow affixed {cross bow} can allow pulling back string and holding it until released manually.

7-Military Affairs-Weapon-Club

billy club

short wood club {billy}.

blackjack club

short leather-clad club {blackjack, weapon}.

cudgel

short thick club {cudgel}.

nightstick

police club {nightstick}.

quarterstaff

long wood pole {quarterstaff}.

shillelagh

Irish club {shillelagh}.

truncheon

short police stick {truncheon}.

7-Military Affairs-Weapon-Firing

ack-ack

anti-aircraft fire {ack-ack}.

ambuscade

barrage {ambuscade}.

barrage

multiply fired cannon or missiles {barrage}.

broadside by guns

firing all guns on one side {broadside, ship}.

cannonade

continual artillery fire {cannonade}.

flak gunfire

anti-aircraft fire {flak, gunfire}.

fusillade

near simultaneous rifle or cannon firing {fusillade}.

salvo

simultaneous fire from a gun set {salvo}.

strafe

airplane or helicopter machine gun firing {strafe}.

volley of gunfire

sequential rifle or rocket firing {volley}.

7-Military Affairs-Weapon-Gun

gun

A hammer hits a chemical {fulminate, material} that ignites on impact {gun}. Fulminate ignites gunpowder behind bullet {firing, gun}. Expanding gas pushes bullet. Bullet goes down tube {barrel, gun}, which has spiral grooves {rifling, gun} to spin bullet. Longer barrel is more accurate and gives more distance. Fulminate, gunpowder, and bullet can be separate. Bullet can be in shell filled with powder, with percussion cap containing fulminate on back {cartridge, bullet}.

riot gun

Guns {riot gun} can have plastic or rubber bullets and low power.

shotgun

Smoothbore guns {shotgun} can shoot pellets.

7-Military Affairs-Weapon-Gun-Pistol

derringer

small American pistol {derringer}.

forty-five

0.45-caliber pistol {forty-five}.

magnum gun

high-caliber pistol {magnum, handgun}.

thirty-eight

0.38-caliber pistol {thirty-eight}.

thirty-two

0.32-caliber pistol {thirty-two}.

twenty-two

0.22-caliber pistol {twenty-two}.

zip gun

pistol assembled at home {zip gun}.

7-Military Affairs-Weapon-Gun-Old

blunderbuss

Short muskets {blunderbuss} can have a wide opening, to shoot shot over a wide area.

breechloader

In guns {breechloader}|, bullet and powder can be separately put into barrel back end {breech, gun}. It became obsolete after cartridges began.

flintlock

In old muzzle-loading rifle {flintlock}|, using flintlock, hammer struck flint, sparks went through hole in barrel back, and gunpowder ignited. Alternatively, hammer with flint tip hit metal plate {frizzen}, and sparks exploded powder in pan [1600 to 1700].

matchlock

lighted match explodes powder in pan [1350 to 1400], or muzzle-loading rifle using matchlock {matchlock}.

musket

Rifles {musket} can have a long smooth-bore barrel.

muzzleloader

Shooter pushes bullet and charge down muzzle to make it ready to fire {muzzleloader}.

7-Military Affairs-Weapon-Gun-Automatic

automatic weapon

repeating rifle or gun {automatic weapon}.

burp gun

machine gun {burp gun}.

Gattling gun

early machine gun {Gattling gun}.

semiautomatic weapon

Guns {semiautomatic weapon} can fire repeatedly or fire manually in single shots.

submachine gun

shoulder-fired machine gun {submachine gun}.

tommy gun

0.45-caliber submachine gun {tommy gun}.

7-Military Affairs-Weapon-Gun-Rifle

air rifle

Guns {air rifle} can use compressed air.

automatic rifle

Clip, magazine, or belt can automatically feed cartridges to gun {automatic rifle}| {machine gun}. Automatic guns can shoot hundreds of shots {round, gun} per minute. Power of exploding powder ejects shell and inserts new cartridge.

carbine

short-barrel rifle {carbine}.

rifle

Guns {rifle, weapon}| can have long barrels and use cartridges. Cartridges load one at time.

Springfield rifle

Clip, magazine, or belt can manually feed cartridges into gun {Springfield rifle}|.

7-Military Affairs-Weapon-Gun-Parts

bayonet

rifle-end knife {bayonet}.

bolt of gun

A sliding bar {bolt, rifle} can eject an empty cartridge and put in a new cartridge.

bore of gun

gun barrel inside {bore}.

butt of gun

rifle or pistol handle {butt, rifle}.

caliber

gun-barrel inside diameter {caliber}.

cross hairs

sight horizontal and vertical strings {cross hairs}.

firing pin

Bolt tip {firing pin} can hit primer.

grapeshot

small iron cannon balls {grapeshot}.

hair-trigger

Triggers {hair-trigger} can fire with light touch.

muzzle of gun

barrel front {muzzle, gun}.

7-Military Affairs-Weapon-Gun-Parts-Bullet

BB

small metal ball {BB}.

blank cartridge

cartridge with no bullet {blank}.

buckshot

Small lead balls {buckshot} can be in shotgun shells.

dumdum

Soft bullets {dumdum} can expand on contact.

sabot

Bullets {sabot} can be in plastic jackets.

tracer

Bullets {tracer} can have lights to show enemy positions.

7-Military Affairs-Weapon-Knife

bowie knife

Long hunting knives {bowie knife} can have one edge.

machete

Large broad-blade knives {machete} can cut vegetables.

shiv

knife {shiv}.

switchblade

Folding knives {switchblade} can swing open by a spring.

yataghan

Turkish curved one-edge long knife {yataghan}.

7-Military Affairs-Weapon-Knife-Dagger

dirk

dagger {dirk}.

poniard

dagger {poniard}.

stiletto

small dagger {stiletto}.

7-Military Affairs-Weapon-Mine

claymore

mine {claymore}.

depth charge

Boats can drops mines {depth charge} into water to hit submarines.

7-Military Affairs-Weapon-Rope

bola

Ropes {bola} can have weights at ends, to trip animals.

bullwhip

heavy long whip {bullwhip}.

garrote

Strangulation {garrote} {garrotte} can be by wire or iron collar.

lariat

lasso {lariat}.

lasso

Ropes {lasso} can have an adjustable noose.

7-Military Affairs-Weapon-Spear

halberd

Long handles can have an ax blade and a spike [1400 to 1600] {halberd}.

lance spear

Long handles can have a metal point {lance, weapon}.

pike as weapon

Long spears or handles can have a metal point {pike, weapon}.

pikestaff

pike on staff {pikestaff}.

trident

Handles can have three large tines {trident}.

7-Military Affairs-Weapon-Sword

bilbo

small sharp-pointed double-edge sword {bilbo}.

bolo

Philippine heavy machete {bolo}.

broadsword

Swords {broadsword} can have a wide double-edged blade.

cuirass

sword {cuirass}.

cutlass

short thick curved sword {cutlass}.

falchion

straight or curved short broad one-edged sword {falchion}.

haft

sword or knife handle {haft, sword}.

hilt

Sword or knife handle part {hilt} can be next to blade.

rapier

double-edge sword {rapier}.

scabbard

dagger or sword sheath {scabbard}.

scimitar

Near-Eastern curved sword {scimitar}.

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7-Military Affairs

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Date Modified: 2022.0225