APPENDIX A
ORIGIN OF MILITARY TERMS
This chapter is intended to give an explanation of the way in which military terms—especially those connected with Organization—came to have their present technical meaning. Their derivation and, in some cases, the date of their introduction are given. Many of these terms have been noticed in the body of the text, and their origin mentioned. They are here collected for facility of reference.
It will be noted that most of our commonest military terms are of considerable antiquity, and that they are essentially cosmopolitan words, widespread in use through Western Europe. Most of them were introduced in Italy during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
The terms are arranged alphabetically in four lists:
1. Ranks and Offices.
2. Names of the different varieties of Troops, and of their Units and Formations.
3. Arms and Accoutrements.
4. Miscellaneous.