To REDUCE a place, is to oblige the governor to surrender it to the besiegers, by capitulation.
To REDUCE the circle. To restore or bring back a battalion or company, which has been formed in circle, to its original position in line.
To REDUCE the square. To restore or bring back a battalion or battalions, which have been formed in a hollow or oblong square, to their original situation in line or column. On the word form close column, the front which the column is to have is noted to stand still by its proper officer, whether it be flank or centre; the other portions of the line are faced towards the point of formation; and then quarter faced or wheeled to front or rear; as the columns is to be formed. The column upon the centre, is the best and most effective of all the formations for columns of attack.
To be REDUCED, in a military sense, to be taken off the establishment, to cease to receive pay as soldiers. When a regiment is reduced, the officers are generally put upon half pay. Sometimes the corps are reduced, and the officers remain upon full pay. This happens at the close of a war, when the standing army of the country is confined to a certain number of battalions. Hence is derived the expression, in and out of the break. In the break, is the liability of being reduced; out of the break, is the certainty of being kept upon the establishment.
To be REDUCED to the ranks. To be taken from a superior appointment in a regiment, and to be ordered to the duty of a common soldier. This sometimes happens, by way of punishment, when a serjeant or corporal misbehaves himself.
REDUCT. See [Redoubt].
REDUCTION des troupes, Fr. A reduction of the armed force of a country.
REDUIRE, Fr. in drawing, to copy, to reduce a plan or picture. This operation differs from that of chalking out. The French use the expression in various senses, viz.
Reduire en grand, Fr. To copy an original drawing, by giving it larger dimensions.
Reduire en petit, Fr. To copy an original drawing, by giving it smaller dimensions, which is literally to reduce it.