Lunettes, are also works made beyond the second ditch, opposite to the places of arms: they differ from the ravelins only in their situation.
Lunettons, are small lunettes.
Merlon, is that part of the breast-work of a battery which is between the embrasures.
Orillon, is a part of the bastion near the shoulder, which serves to cover the retired flank from being seen obliquely: it is sometimes faced with stone, on the shoulder of a casemated bastion, to cover the cannon of the retired flank, and hinder them from being dismounted by the enemy’s cannon.
Of all the works in a fortification, there is none more capable of defending the passage of the ditch, and to destroy the miner, wheresoever he enters himself, than the orillon. Experience in the last war has shewn us of what vast advantage it is to have 2 or 3 reserve pieces of cannon, which command the ditch, and the face of the opposite bastion, in such a manner as to destroy the attempts of the miners, and see the breach in reverse. Hence the great advantages of a double flank thus concealed weigh so very much with us, and convince us so entirely of their usefulness, that we affirm no place to be well fortified without the orillon, and that the straight flank is fit for nothing but field works.
The orillon is as old as the bastion, and was first made use of about the year 1480; and we find it frequently mentioned in the works of Pasino and Speckle, first published in 1579.
Out-works. See [Works].
Palisades, in fortification, are a kind of stakes made of strong spars about 9 feet long, fixed 3 deep in the ground, in rows about 6 inches asunder: they are placed in the covert-way, at 3 feet from, and parallel to the parapet of the glacis, to secure it from being surprised.
Parapet, in fortification, is a part of the rampart of a work, 18 to 20 feet broad, and raised 6 or 7 feet above the rest of the rampart: it serves to cover the troops placed there to defend the work against the fire of the enemy.
Parallels. See [Siege].