GUIDON, Fr. See [Sight].
Guidon, in ancient military history, the name of a sort of standard broad at one extreme and almost pointed at the other, and slit or divided into two.
Guidon also implies the officer who carries the guidon or standard.
Guidons, in the French service, were exclusively attached to the Gendarmerie; and among them the word formerly meant not only the standard but likewise the officer who carried it.
GUIGNEAU, Fr. This word means the same thing as chevétre. It is a piece of wood which joins the joists of a floor, that are cut to make room for the hearth of a chimney-piece.
GUILLAUME, Fr. a tool somewhat like a plane which is used by carpenters, and of which there are several sorts according to the nature of the work.
GUINDAS, Fr. All machines which by means of a wheel and its axis serve to raise heavy loads, are so called by the French.
GUINDER, Fr. to draw up any weight. Hence the term guindage, which is applied to the movement of loads that are raised and let down.
GUISARMIERS, Fr. a body of free archers, or bowmen, who took their name from an offensive weapon called guisarme, or jusarme, somewhat similar to the voulgue, a sort of javelin, which was used in hunting the wild boar. Its length was equal to that of the halbert, and it had a broad piece of sharp iron fixed to one end.
GULLY. Any hollow which has been made by running water. Ambuscades are frequently laid in such places.