Broadsword. Is a sword with a broad blade, for cutting only, not for stabbing, and therefore not sharp at the point like a sabre.
Broadwell Ring. A gas-check for use in heavy breech-loading guns, invented by L. W. Broadwell. See [Breech Mechanism].
Brod (Slavonian). A military frontier fortress of Austria, on the Save, defended by a fort. Here Ziska defeated the emperor Sigismund in 1422.
Broke. Sentence of a court-martial depriving an officer of his commission, or a non-commissioned officer or warrant-officer of his warrant. Also said of a non-commissioned officer being reduced by order.
Brondolo. A fortified village of Northern Italy, on the Brenta-Nuova; it was formerly a flourishing town; destroyed by the Genoese in 1380.
Broni. A town of Redmont, in the province of Alessandria, about 11 miles southeast of Pavia. In its vicinity is the castle of Broni, celebrated in history as the place where Prince Eugène obtained a victory over the French in 1703.
Bronnitza. A town of Russia, in the government of Novgorod, on the Masta. Here the Swedes defeated the Russians in 1614.
Bronze. See [Ordnance, Metals for, Bronze].
Bronze. Gun-barrels are bronzed by acting upon them with the chloride or butter of antimony, or with hydrochloric or nitric acids, when the surface of the iron gets partially eaten into, and covered with a thin film of oxide, after which the gun-barrel is thoroughly cleaned, oiled, and burnished. A brownish shade is thus communicated to the barrel, which protects it from rust, and at the same time renders it less conspicuous to an enemy.
Brooke Gun. See [Ordnance, Construction of].