Fire-pan. A pan for holding or conveying fire; especially, the receptacle for the priming in a gun.
Fire, Plane of. See [Pointing].
Fire, Plunging. See [Fire].
Fire-pot. A small earthen pot, into which is put a charged grenade, and over that, powder enough to cover the grenade; the whole covered with a piece of parchment, and two pieces of quick-match across lighted; it breaks and fires the powder, as also the powder in the grenade, which has no fuze, that its operations may be quicker; it burns all that is near it. These are no longer used.
Fire Rasant. Is produced by firing the artillery and small-arms in a line parallel with those parts of the works you are defending.
Fire, Reverse. Is that which strikes the rear of a parapet or body of troops.
Fire, Ricochet. See [Fire].
Fire, Slant. Is when the shot strikes the interior slope of the parapet, forming with it a horizontal angle, not greater than 30°.
Fire Stone. A composition placed in a shell with the bursting charge, to set fire to ships, buildings, etc. It is made by stirring nitre, sulphur, antimony, and rosin in a mixture of melted tallow and turpentine. It is cast in molds made of rocket-paper. A priming of fuze composition is driven in a hole to insure its ignition.
Fire-swab. The bunch of rope-yarns sometimes secured to the tampion, saturated with water to cool the gun in action, and to swab up any grains of powder.