TAILLOIR, Fr. Trencher. It likewise signifies in architecture a square piece of stone, or wood which is placed above the capital.
To TAKE. This verb, as Dr. Johnson observes, like prendre in French, is used with endless multiplicity of relations. Its uses are so numerous, that they cannot easily be exemplified; and its references to the words governed by it so general and lax, that they can hardly be explained by any succedaneous terms. But commonly that is hardest to explain which least wants explanation. We shall content ourselves with giving a few general terms, in which the verb take is used with respect to military matters.
To Take. To make prisoner.
To Take advantage of. To avail oneself of any peculiar event or opening, whereby an enemy may be overcome, viz.—He took advantage of the debaucheries which were daily committed in the enemy’s camp, to surprise the army.
To Take ground to the right or left. To extend a line towards either of those directions.
To Take up quarters. To occupy locally; to go into cantonments, barracks, &c. To become stationary for more or less time.
To Take up the gauntlet. The correlative to throw down the gauntlet. To accept a challenge.
To Take up arms. To embody and troop together for offensive or defensive purposes. We likewise say, to take arms.
To Take down. To minute; to commit to paper what is spoken or given orally. Hence to take down his words.
To Take the field. To encamp. It likewise means generally to move with troops in military order.