SOW, in ancient military history, a kind of covered shed, fixed on wheels, under which the besiegers filled up and passed the ditch, sapped or mined the wall, and sometimes worked a kind of ram. It had its name from its being used for rooting up the earth like a swine, or because the soldiers therein were like pigs under a sow.
SOWAR, Ind. A horseman.
SOWARRY, Ind. A retinue, cavalcade; the English residents in India say, such a man travels with a large sowarry, meaning a great number of followers.
SOWGUND, Ind. An oath.
SPADE, (Beche, Fr.) an instrument for digging. See Intrenching Tools, [Mining], &c.
SPADROON, a sword much lighter than a broadsword, and made both to cut and thrust.
Spadroon Guard, a guard sometimes used with the cut and thrust sword, and also with the broadsword. It consists in dropping the point towards the right from the outside guard, till it comes under your adversary’s blade, the edge being upwards, and your wrist at the same time raised.
SPAHI, Persian. A soldier or military man, whence the common Hindustan term Sepahi, corrupted by the English into Sepcy.
Spahi. An upper garment made of blue cloth, which is worn by the Janizaries, in the same manner that we wear a loose great coat or surtout.
SPAHIS. A corps of Turkish cavalry, which is kept in pay by the grand signor. The Spahis do not possess any lands as the Zaims and Timariots are allowed to do. This corps is composed of twelve or fifteen thousand men, and consists of the Silbataris, whose standard or cornet is yellow, and of the Spahis-Glanis, who have a red one. When the troops were first formed, the latter acted as servants or batmen to the former: they became a separate class or troop in consequence of their superior conduct on service, and were distinguished in this manner:—They are armed with a sabre and a lance, which they call Misra. They likewise make use of a long dart or javelin, called a Gerie, with an iron ferrel at one end, which they throw at the enemy with surprising skill; and if they should happen to miss their aim, they can instantly bend from their saddles, and catch it up, whilst the horse is on full gallop. Others again are armed with bows and arrows, and some have pistols and carbines. When the grand signor takes the field in person, he generally makes a present of five thousand aspres to each Spahi. This bounty is called Sadach akchiasi, or gift to enable each man to purchase bows and arrows.