Half-Companies. The same as subdivisions, and equal to a platoon.
Half Distance, signifies half the regular interval or space between troops drawn up in ranks, or standing in column.
Half Files, half the given number of any body of men drawn up two deep.
Half-files are so called in cavalry, when the men rank off singly.
Half-File leader, (Chef de demi-file, Fr.) the foremost man of a rank entire.
Half-Batta. An extra allowance which has been granted to the whole of the officers belonging to the British east Indian army, except in Bengal, when out of the company’s district in the province of Oude. In the upper provinces double batta is allowed. All above full is paid by the native princes, as the troops stationed in that quarter are considered as auxiliaries. The full batta is an allowance granted to both officers and men whenever they are under canvas. Batta is equal to full pay.
Half-Circle guard, one of the guards used with the broad-sword to parry an inside cut below the wrist, formed by dropping the point of the sword outward in a semicircular direction, with the edge turned to the left, and raising the hand to the height of the face.
Half-Circle parade, a parade of the small sword, used against the thrust in low carte.
Half-Hanger, or Half-Hanging-Guard, a position of defence in the art of broad-sword; differing from the hanging-guard, in the sword-hand not being raised so high, but held low enough to see your opponent over the hilt. See [Broadsword].
Half-Moon, or demi-lune, Fr. See [Fortification].