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

Penstock. A machine composed of timber, which, by means of a movable board, enables the defenders of a fortress to allow such a rush of water from the batardeaux as to inundate and destroy the works which the enemy may have constructed in the ditch.

Pentagon. In fortification, a figure bounded by five sides, which form so many angles, capable of being fortified with an equal number of bastions. It also denotes a fort with five bastions.

Pentathlon. The five exercises performed in the Grecian games, namely, leaping, running, quoiting, darting, and wrestling.

Penthouse. A shed hanging forward in a sloping direction from the main wall of a place.

Pentland Hills. A range of hills in Scotland, commencing about 4 miles west from Edinburgh. Here the Scotch Presbyterians, since called Cameronians, who had risen against the government, on account of the establishment of Episcopacy, were defeated by the royal troops, November 28, 1666.

Pentri. One of the most important of the tribes in Samnium; were conquered by the Romans along with the other Samnites, and were the only one of the Samnite tribes who remained faithful to the Romans when the rest of the nation revolted to Hannibal in the second Punic war.

Peons. East Indian municipal foot-soldiers. These men are chiefly employed to assist in collecting the revenues, and carry a pike or staff. Most persons in India keep servants, who wear a belt with their master’s name on it. These are called peadahs.

Peoria Indians. A tribe of aborigines who formerly resided in Illinois, but are now settled on the Quapaw agency, in Indian Territory, in confederation with the Kaskaskias and other tribes. They are but few in number, the northern tribes having nearly exterminated them in 1769, in revenge for the murder of Pontiac.

Pequots, or Pequods. A tribe of Indians of Algonkin stock, closely allied to the Mohegans, who resided in Eastern Connecticut. The tribe was nearly exterminated by the colonists in the Pequot war (1637).

Perclose, or Demi-Garter. In heraldry, the lower half of a garter with the buckle.