ECLAIREURS, Fr. a corps of grenadiers raised by Bonaparte, in France, who from their celerity of movement were compared to lightning.
ECLOPES, a French military term, to express those soldiers who, though invalids, are yet well enough to follow the army. Among these may be classed dragoons or horsemen, whose horses get suddenly lame, and cannot keep up with the troop or squadron. They always march in the rear of a column.
ECLUSES, Fr. See [Sluices].
ECONOMY, in a military sense, implies the minutiæ, or interior regulations of a regiment, troop, or company. Hence regimental economy.
ECORE, Fr. steep shore. Côte en ecore, signifies a very steep descent.
ECOUPE, Fr. An instrument used by the pioneers. See [Outils].
ECOUVILLON, Fr. a maulkin or drag. The spunge made use of to clean and to cool the inside of a cannon, when it has been discharged.
ECOUVILLONER, Fr. To clean a piece of ordnance before it has been fired, or to cool it after.
ECRETER, Fr. To batter or fire at the top of a wall, redoubt, epaulement, &c. so as to dislodge or drive away the men that may be stationed behind it, in order to render the approach more easy. Ecreter les pointes des palissades, is to blunt the sharp ends of the palisades. This ought always to be done before you attack the covert way, which is generally fenced by them.
ECU, Fr. A large shield which was used by the ancients, and carried on their left arms, to ward off the blows of a sword or sabre. This instrument of defence was originally invented by the Samnites. The Moors had ecus or shields, sufficiently large to cover the whole of their bodies. The clipei of the Romans, only differed from the ecu in shape; the former being entirely round, and the latter oval.