Sixain. In the Middle Ages, was an order of battle, wherein six battalions being ranged in one line, the second and fifth were made to advance, to form the vanguard; the first and sixth to retire, to form the rear-guard; the third and fourth remaining on the spot, to form the corps or body of the battle.
Six-shooter. A pistol with six barrels, or capable of firing six shots in quick succession; especially a six-barreled or six-chambered revolver.
Size, To. In a military sense, to take the height of men for the purpose of placing them in military array, and of rendering their relative statures more effective.
Skalitz. A small town of Austria, in the northwest of Hungary, near the borders of Moravia, on the left bank of the March. It was stormed by the Prussian general Steinmetz, June 28, 1866; whereby the junction of the divisions of the Prussians was greatly facilitated.
Skean, Skeen, or Skeine. A Celtic word which signifies a knife. It was a weapon in the shape of a small sword or knife, which was worn by the Irish in ancient times.
Skedaddle. To betake one’s self to flight; to run away with precipitation, as if in a panic; to withdraw, as an army, or part of an army, from the presence of an enemy, especially in a hasty or secret manner.
Skeleton. A word applied to regiments that have become reduced in their number of men.
Sketch, Military. The delineation of a small portion of ground for military purposes. The scale is generally larger than that of a map.
Skid. In military language, is any timber which is used as a base to keep one object from resting on another. Thus, a row of cannon in store will be kept from the ground by skids. The term is also applied to the drag which is put on the wheels of carriages in going up hills, to prevent rolling backwards.
Skierniwice. A town of Russia, situated on the Bzura, 38 miles southwest from Warsaw. The French were defeated here, in 1809, by the Russians.