Pot d’une fusée volante, Fr. the carcase of a fusee.
Pot à feu, Fr. a fire pot; a hand grenado.
Pot à aigrette, Fr. an artificial firework, the centre of which contains a certain quantity of powder, which upon being inflamed, communicates itself to several other branches, and exhibits the appearance of an aigrette, or cluster of rays, such as issue from diamonds arranged in a particular manner. The aigrette takes its name from a bird so called, whose feathers serve to make up an ornament for the head.
Pot en téte, Fr. a headpiece made of iron, which is proof against musquet shot. This headpiece is sometimes placed in the crown of the hat, and is otherwise used by sappers.
POTEAU, Fr. a stake, post.
POTEE, Fr. Putty.
POTENCE, Fr. Troops are ranged en potence by breaking a straight line, and throwing a certain proportion of it, either forward or backward, from the right or left, according to circumstances, for the purpose of securing that line. An army may be posted en potence by means of a village, a river, or a wood. The derivation of the word may be variously explained, viz. From Potence, a gibbet. Potences, crutches or supports. Potence likewise means a piece of wood which is thrown across two uprights; also a cross table, as table en potence; and a measure to ascertain the height of a horse or man.
POTENTAT, Fr. See [Potentate].
POTENTATE, a sovereign prince, whose power is rendered formidable by the various means of authority which are vested in him.
POTERNE, Fr. a postern gate, a sally port.