Friuli. An old province of Italy, belonging to Venice; made a duchy by Alboin the Lombard, when he established his kingdom about 570. It was conquered by Charlemagne; and Henri, a Frenchman, made duke, who was assassinated in 799. It was conquered by Venice in 1420.
Frock. In the British service, the undress regimental coat of the guards, artillery, and royal marines.
Frogged. A term used in regard to uniforms, and applied to stripes or workings of braid or lace, as ornaments, mostly on the breast, on the plain cloth of which a coat is made.
Fronde (Fr.). A sling. This weapon was used in France by the Huguenots at Sancerre, as late as the year 1572, in order to save their powder. There were two kinds: one which was used in throwing a stone from the arm, and the other that was fixed to a lever, and was so contrived that a large quantity of stones might be thrown out of a machine, either from a camp into a besieged town, or from a town into the enemy’s camp. This machine has been used since the invention of cannon. The fronde or sling was used by the Romans on three different occasions, viz.: when they sent their light-armed men, called velites, forward to skirmish before a general engagement; when they wished to drive the enemy from under the walls of a town which they were preparing to storm, and finally to harass and wound the men in the enemy’s works. This weapon, in fact, together with the bow and arrow, may be numbered among the primitive arms of mankind.
Fronde, Civil Wars of the. These occurred in France in the minority of Louis XIV. (1648-53), during the government of the queen, Anne of Austria, and Cardinal Mazarin, between the followers of the court and the nobility, and the Parliament and the citizens. The latter were called Frondeurs (slingers), it is said, from an incident in a street quarrel.
Front. A word of command signifying that the men are to face to their proper front; also to cast their eyes to the front after dressing.
Front. The foremost rank of a battalion, squadron, or any other body of men. The front of a gun is the direction in which the muzzle points; but when a field-piece is limbered, its front is the direction in which the pole points. The front of a work or fortification is the side it presents to the enemy. The front of an army, except in retreating, is the side towards the enemy. A column is said to be right in front when it is formed by facing or wheeling to the right.
Front, Bastioned. A curtain connecting two half bastions.
Front of Operations. See [Strategy].
Frontal. A front piece; something worn on the forehead or face; or the metal face-guard of a soldier.