All PRESENT. A term used when an officer takes his serjeant’s report, and makes the necessary enquiry respecting the state of his troops or company.
To Present, Presenter, Fr. This word is used in various senses. Those which are more immediately applicable to military usage are as follow:
To Present. To offer openly. To exhibit. To give in ceremony; as to present the colors.
To Present arms. To bring the firelock to a certain prescribed position, for the purpose of paying a military compliment. See [Manual].
Presenter les armes, Fr. To present arms, to bring the firelock to any position that may be prescribed in military exercise. In the firings it signifies make ready, viz. Presentez les armes, make ready; Joue, aim; feu, fire. In the manual and other exercises of the piece, it corresponds with our term.
Presenter la baïonette, Fr. To charge bayonet.
PRESIDENCY. The seat of government, so distinguished in India. There are four presidencies, viz. Bombay, Calcutta, Fort St. David, and Madras.
PRESIDENT of the United States.
President of the old congress.
President of a general or regimental court martial. The officer, oldest in rank, who sits in conjunction with other officers, for the trial of military offences is so called. The court, consisting of an odd number of members, when their opinions are equal, the president has the casting vote.