A Military Dictionary and Gazetteer / Comprising ancient and modern military technical terms, historical accounts of all North American Indians, as well as ancient warlike tribes; also notices of battles from the earliest period to the present time, with a concise explanation of terms used in heraldry and the offices thereof. The work also gives valuable geographical information. Compiled from the best authorities of all nations. With an appendix containing the Articles of war, etc.

by Thomas Wilhelm

Oblat (Fr.). Disabled soldier formerly maintained by abbeys.

Oblique. In tactics, indicates a direction which is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the front, but more or less diagonal. It is a command of warning in the tactics for the movement. It is used in referring to diagonal alignments, attacks, orders of battles, squares against cavalry, changes of front, fires, etc.

Oblique Deployments. When the component parts of a column that is extending into line, deviate to the right or left, for the purpose of taking up an oblique position, its movements are called oblique deployments.

Oblique Fire. See [Fire, Oblique].

Oblique Flank. See [Flank, Oblique].

Oblique Order of Battle. See [Order of Battle, Oblique].

Oblique Percussion. Is that wherein the striking body is not perpendicular to the body struck, or is not in line with its centre of gravity.

Oblique Position. Is a position taken in an oblique direction from the original line of formation.

Oblique Projection. Is that wherein the direction of the striking body is not perpendicular to the body struck, which makes an oblique angle with the horizontal line.

Oblique Radius. Is a line extending from the centre to the exterior side of a polygon.