To RUN the gantlope, (that is the gauntlet) to undergo a punishment which has been allotted for considerable offences in some foreign countries. When a soldier is sentenced to run the gantlope, the regiment is drawn out in two ranks facing each other: each soldier, having a switch in each hand, lashes the criminal as he runs along naked from the waist upwards. While he runs, the drums beat at each end of the ranks. Sometimes he runs 3, 5, or 7 times, according to the nature of the offence. The major is on horseback, and takes care that each soldier strikes the culprit.
RUNNING-fire. See [Fire].
RUPEE, a silver coin which varies in its value according to the part of India in which it is current. Rupees struck by the English, are generally worth half a dollar.
RUPTURE, a disease which disqualifies a man from being admitted as a soldier; but as some men are capable of producing and reducing a rupture with great ease, they should not be discharged in slight cases, as by the use of a truss they may be enabled to do duty for a long time.
Rupture. This word also signifies the commencement of hostilities between any two or more powers.
RUSE, Fr. Cunning, trick, ingenuity. It is applied to military matters, and signifies stratagem.
RUSER, Fr. To make use of stratagems: Il est permis de Ruser à la guerre; it is lawful to make use of stratagems in war.
RUSES de guerre, Fr. Stratagems of war. See [Stratagems].
RUSSOOT, Ind. A tribe of Hindoos, whose particular duty is the care of horses.
RUSSUMDAR, Ind. A person deriving a particular perquisite.