LASCARS, or Laskars. The native seamen of India; the native gunners are likewise so called. They are employed to tend and serve the artillery on shore, and are attached to corps as pioneers or tent-pitchers.
LASHING-RINGS, in artillery, with hoops, fixed on the side-pieces of travelling carriages, to lash the tarpauling, as also to tie the spunge, rammer, and ladle. See [Carriage].
LATH, in building, a long, thin, and narrow slip of wood, nailed to the rafters of a roof or ceiling, in order to fasten the covering. Laths are distinguished into three kinds, according to the different kinds of wood of which they are made, viz. heart of oak, sap-laths, deal-laths, &c.
LATHE, a machine for turning wood or metal.
LATHE Reeve, an officer during the Saxon government, who held a certain jurisdiction over that part of the country which was called a tithing.
LATTIE, an Indian term for warehouse.
LATITUDE, in geography, the distance of any place from the equator, measured in degrees, minutes, seconds, &c. upon the meridian of that place: and is either north or south according as the place is situated either on the north or south side of the equator.
LATRINES, Fr. privies or holes which are dug at the back of a camp for the convenience of soldiers. The pioneers are generally employed to make them.
LAVER, LAVIS, Fr. a wash, or superficial stain or color; it is particularly made use of in all sketches, plans, and drawings; the different intervals or spaces of which are slightly shaded or colored. This kind of painting is stiled lavis, or water-coloring. The difference between miniature painting and washing or drawing in water colors, consists in this, that the former is dotted and worked up into light and shade; the latter is barely spread with a brush. There are, besides, other marks of distinction; those colors which more immediately resemble nature, are always used in the lavis or water-painting; the spaces that represent a fosse or ditch, which is supposed to be full of water, must be distinguished by a sky blue; brick and tiles by red; roads by a dun color, and trees or turf, &c. by green.
LAVIS, Fr. generally means every sort of simple color which is diluted with water.