Page 251 - Canadian Dominion Directory 1871 - Partie 1-fusionné
P. 251

of a pivoted horizontal arm mounted  constant  struggle between  the  pene-
                             on  a  taIl  post. At  one  end  of  the  tration  power  of  modern  weapons
                             arrn was the target and at the other  and the effectiveness of  the armour
                             end  a sand bag.  Providing the rider  on tanks etc., so in the Middle Ages
                             hit  the  target,  the  Sand  bag  was  it  was  a  constant  struggle between
                             whirled  round  by  the  blow  thus  the armourer and  the constantly im-
                             knocking  him  from  the  saddle  un-  provjng  weapons  which  they  were
                             less  he  was  quick  enough  to  avoid  protecting against. By  the beginning
                             it.
                                                              of  the  17th century, jn order to pro-
                                                              lect  against  the improved  power  of
                             Quiver - A  sheath or case slung  on  the tnusket,  armour had  become so
                             to  the  belt  or  baldric  for  carrying  heavy  that  the  fighting  men  either
                             arrows.
                                                              pay for wearing it at any other time
                                                              than  when  actually  fighting.
                                                              Rondache - The general name given
                                                              to  any  circular  shield  carried  by
                                                              horsemen  in  the  16th  century  and
                                                              from  the  next  century  by  foot
                             Ram - See Battering  Ram.
                                                              soldiers.  It  was  frequently  made
                                                              entirely  £rom  iron  or  steel  and
                             Ransom  - A  sum  of  money  or
                                                              served  as a  lance or sword breaker.
                             quantiw  of  vaIuables  payable  by  a
                             prisoner  in  exchange  for  his  free-
                                                              Ronde  Dagger  - A  dagger  used
                             dom.
                                                              almost  exclusively  by  military  per-
                               Generaii y  speaking  the  ordinary
                                                              sonnel. Its pomel and  hand  guard
                             soldier  stood  very  little  chance  of
                                                              were  formed  of  roundles  consisting
                             having his life spared  if  he was cap-
                                                              of  flat  discs  or  plates  of  various
                             tured  unless, of  course, he couId be
                                                              shapes set horlzontally to the blade.
                             sold  into slavery.
                               Higher-ranking  prisoners  were
                                                              Rowel - A spiked  wheel  or disc on
                             almost  invariably  spared  as  they
                                                              a  spur  as  opposed  to  the  plain
                             were normally  in  a  position  Eo  pay
                                                              pointed  type.
                             adequate ransom.
                             Rapier  -  A  slender  and  hely-
                             pointed  type  of  sword  used  for
                             thrusting  and  parrying  instead  of   refused to Wear it or demanded extra
                             cutting  and  hewing  with  its  edge.
                             It was used  extensively for duelling.
                                                              Sabatons - A system of  overlapping
                             Rerebrace  - Originally  referred  to   horizontal  lames  introduced  early
                             the  plated  covering  at  the  back  of   in  the  14th  century  to  cover  the
                             both  the upper  and  lower arm, but   shoes.
                             later  generally  referred  to  both
                             pIates  on  the  upper  arm.     Sabre - The cavalry sword designed
                                                              principally  for  cutting but  also  for
                             Resistance  of  Amour - The  story  pointing.  It  was  a  stout  weapon
                             was the same in the Middle Ages as  with  a  particularly  fine edge  and  a
                             it  is  today  and where  today  it  is  a  curved  blade.
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