Consigne (Fr.). Parole or countersign.
Constable. The title in the Middle Ages of the highest military officer in France under the king. The term comes from the low Latin phrase comes stabuli, count of the stables.
Constable of the Tower. In England, is a general officer who has the chief superintendence of the Tower, and is lord-lieutenant of the Tower Hamlets. He holds his appointment by letters-patent from the sovereign, and is not removable at pleasure.
Constantine, or Constantina. A fortified city of Algeria, capital of a province of its own name. It stands on the site of the ancient Cirta, celebrated as the bulwark of Numidia. It is built upon a high rock, formed into a species of peninsula by the Rummel. It was besieged by the French in 1836, but held out till October, 1837, when it was taken by assault.
Constantinople. A celebrated city of Turkey in Europe, the capital of the Ottoman empire. It was formerly called Byzantium, but having been rebuilt by the emperor Constantine in 328, it received his name. No city in the world has been subjected to as many numerous and celebrated sieges, yet it was only taken twice,—by the Crusaders in 1204 (held by them till 1261), and by the Turks under Mohammed II., May 29, 1453,—an event which completed the extinction of the Roman empire in the East.
Contest. In a military sense, to struggle to defend; as, the troops contested every inch of ground. Earnest struggle for superiority, defense, or the like; strife in arms.
Continental. A term adopted by the Americans in the Revolutionary war in contradistinction to British.
Contingent. This term is applied to the quota of troops furnished to the common army by each member of a confederation of states; the proportion of troops or money furnished by each party to an alliance.
Contingent. In the British service, the sum paid monthly to each captain of a troop, company, or battery, to defray the expense of stationery, the care of arms, and other minor demands. A contingent account is also the account, sent in by a staff-officer, of money expended for miscellaneous purposes.
Contours. Are the lines in which a site or ground surface is cut by horizontal planes, usually taken at equidistances.