Roundheads, The. In English history, a nickname given, in the reign of Charles I., to the Puritans, or Parliamentary party, who were accustomed to wear their hair cut close to the head. They were so called in opposition to the Cavaliers, or Royalists, who wore their hair in long ringlets.
Roundle, or Roundlet. In heraldry, a general name given to charges of a circular form, which in English heraldry have more special names indicative of their tinctures. A roundle or is called a Bezant; a roundle argent, a Plate; a roundle gules, a Torteaux; a roundle azure, a Hurt; a roundle sable, an Ogress, or Pellet; a roundle purpure, a Golpe; a roundle sanguine, a Guze; a roundle tenney, an Orange. In the heraldry of Scotland and of the continent, it is, on the other hand, usual to design all roundles of metal bezants, and those of color, torteaux, adding the tincture. Thus the coat blazoned in England azure three plates, would be in the Scottish mode of blazon, azure three bezants argent.
Rounds. An officer or non-commissioned officer who, attended by one or more men, visits the sentinels in barracks, in order to ascertain whether they are vigilant. There are two sorts of rounds, grand and visiting. Grand rounds are the rounds which are gone by general officers, commandants, or field-officers. When there are no officers of the day, the officer of the main guard may go the grand rounds. The grand rounds generally go at midnight; the visiting rounds at intermediate periods, between sunset and reveille. The grand rounds receive the parole, and all other rounds give it to the guards. In officers’ rounds the officer guarding is preceded by a drummer carrying a lantern, and followed by a sergeant and a file of men. Ordinary rounds consist of a sergeant and a file of men. Both ordinary and officers’ rounds are termed visiting rounds. The design of rounds is not only to visit the guards, and keep the sentinels alert, but likewise to discover what passes in the outworks, and beyond them.
Rout. The confusion created in an army or body of troops when defeated or dispersed. To put to the rout, is to defeat and throw into confusion. The term expresses more than a defeat, because it implies a dispersion of the enemy’s forces; for a defeated enemy may retreat in good order; but when routed, order and discipline are at an end.
Route. An open road; the course of march of troops. Instructions for the march of detachments, specifying daily marches, means of supply, etc., are given from the headquarters of an army in the field, and are called marching routes.
Route Step. In tactics, is a style of march whereby the men carry their arms at will, keeping the muzzles elevated; they are not required to preserve silence, or to keep the step, but each man covers the file in his front. The ranks preserve the distance of 32 inches from each other. The route step is at the rate of from 21⁄2 to 3 miles per hour.
Routine. This word has been adopted by us in the same sense that it is familiarly used by the French. It signifies capacity, or the faculty of arranging; a certain method in business, civil or military, which is as much acquired by habit and practice as by regular study and rule. We say familiarly the routine of business.
Rowel. The pointed part of a riding spur, which is made in a circular form, with rays or points like a star.
Royal. A small mortar which carries a shell whose diameter is 5.5 inches. It is mounted on a bed the same as other mortars.
Royal. In England, one of the soldiers of the first regiment of foot, called the Royals, and supposed to be the oldest regular corps in Europe.