-glossary

acoustic - Of or relating to sound, the sense of hearing, or the science of sound.

ammunition - All projectiles, such as bullets and shot, together with their fuses and primers, that can be fired from guns or otherwise propelled.

artillery - Large-caliber weapons, such as cannon, howitzers, and missile launchers, that are operated by crews. bombardment To attack with bombs, shells, or missiles.

brigade - A military unit consisting of a variable number of combat battalions.

cannonade - To assault with heavy artillery fire.

carbine - A lightweight rifle with a short barrel.

casualties - One injured, killed, captured, or missing in action through engagement with an enemy.

cavalry - A highly mobile army unit using vehicular transport, such as light armor and helicopters.

censure - An expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism.

company - A subdivision of a military regiment or battalion that constitutes the lowest administrative unit. It is usually under the command of a captain and is made up of at least two platoons.

compromise - A settlement of differences in which each side makes concessions.

confederacy - The 11 Southern states that seceded from the United States in 1860 and 1861.

consecrate - To dedicate solemnly to a service or goal.

continuity - The state or quality of being continuous.

corps - A tactical unit of ground combat forces between a division and an army commanded by a lieutenant general and composed of two or more divisions and auxiliary service troops.

cotton gin - A machine invented by Eli Whitney that separates the seeds, seed hulls, and other small objects from the fibers of cotton.

counterattack - To deliver a return attack or make a return attack against.

deserter - To abandon (a military post, for example) in violation of orders or an oath.

dispatch - An important message sent by a diplomat or an officer in the armed forces.

division - An administrative and tactical military unit that is smaller than a corps but is self-contained and equipped for prolonged combat activity.

duel - To engage (another) in or as if in formal combat.

echelon - A formation of troops in which each unit is positioned successively to the left or right of the rear unit to form an oblique or steplike line.

effectives - A soldier or a piece of military equipment that is ready for combat.

emancipate - To free from , oppression, or restraint; liberate.

hallow - To respect or honor greatly; revere. high water mark The high tide; maximum incessant Continuing without interruption.

indefinitly - Lacking precise limits.

infantry - The combat arm made up of units trained to fight on foot.

irrepressible -Difficult or impossible to control or restrain.

musket - A smoothbore shoulder gun.

perish - To pass from existence; disappear gradually.

plateau - An elevated, comparatively level expanse of land; a tableland.

procrastinate - To put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness.

prolonged - To lengthen in duration; protract.

reconcile - To settle or resolve.

reconnaissance - An inspection or exploration of an area, especially one made to gather military information.

redress - To set right; remedy or rectify.

regiment - A military unit of ground troops consisting of at least two battalions, usually commanded by a colonel.

reinforcements - Additional personnel or equipment sent to support a military action.

resignation - An oral or written statement that one is resigning a position or an office. resurge To rise again.

rifle - a. A firearm with a rifled bore, designed to be fired from the shoulder. b. An artillery piece or naval gun with such spiral grooves.

secede - To withdraw formally from membership in an organization, association, or alliance.

seminary - A school, especially a theological school for the training of priests, ministers, or rabbis.

shell -
noun A projectile or piece of ammunition, especially the hollow tube containing explosives used to propel such a projectile.
verb To fire shells at; bombard.

slacken - To make or become less vigorous, intense, or severe; ease.

smoothbore - Having no rifling within the barrel.

squads - The smallest tactical unit of military personnel.

stringent - Imposing rigorous standards of performance.

telegraph - A communications system that transmits and receives simple unmodulated electric impulses, especially one in which the transmission and reception stations are directly connected by wires.