FUNNEL, any pipe or passage of communication from one place to another.
To FURL, in regard to military flags or colors, is opposed to their exposure; and is used, to express the act of folding them so as to be cased.
FURLOUGH, a leave of absence. Every non-commissioned officer and soldier who obtains leave of absence from his regiment must be provided with a proper voucher to satisfy the commanding officer of any place or party, that he has the sanction of his superiors to pass and repass within a given period.
The following is an eligible form:
According to the authority vested in me by law, I ———— lieutenant colonel ———— commanding the ———— quartered at ———— do issue the following.
“Permit the bearer ———— private ———— in the above regiment and in captain ———— to pass to ———— in the state of ———— county of ———— for the space of ———— ending the ———— of ———— and then to return to ———— as no excuse will be taken but that of sickness, for his over-staying his furlough; and that to be certified by an officer of the army, or civil magistrate; he behaving as becometh. He is —— feet —— inches high, —— years of age, ———— complexion, ———— hair, ———— eyes, &c.”
All soldiers found half a mile from a camp or garrison, going towards an enemy’s country, or quarters, without a pass, are deemed and treated as deserters.
FURNACE. In a general acceptation of the term, any vessel or utensil for maintaining a strong and searching fire, either of coal or wood.
Furnace is sometimes applied, but improperly so, to that used in the melting of iron, and by some authors it is confounded with iron forges; although there is a considerable difference between them. See [Foundry].
Furnace in mining, signifies a hollow, or excavation which is made in the earth and is charged with gun-powder, for the purpose of blowing up a rock, wall, or any part of a fortification.