The French ammunition waggons, which are drawn by 4 horses, are always charged with 1200 pounds only.
The regulations for British home service in 1798 state the load for a bread waggon at 2400 lbs. and for a cart of entrenching tools at 400 lbs. Men used to bear loads, such as porters, will carry from 150 to 250 pounds.
A horse will carry about 300 lbs. and a mule about 250 lbs. See also the word [Horses].
LOCHABER-AXE, a tremendous Scotch weapon, now used by none but the town guard of Edinburgh; one of which is to be seen among the small armory in the tower of London.
LOCKS, in gunnery, are of various sorts; common for lockers in travelling carriages, or for boxes containing shot, powder, or cartridges. Also locks for fire arms, being that part of the musquet, by which fire is struck and the powder inflamed.
LOCK-STEP. This step was first introduced into the British service by the Elliot Lord Heathfield, when he commanded the garrison at Gibraltar; and is the same that general Saldern (from whose works all the British regulations have been almost literally selected) calls the deploy step. This step consists in the heel of one man being brought nearly in contact with the joint of the great toe of another, so that when men step off together they constantly preserve the same distance. The lock or deploy step was always practised when a battalion marched in file or close column; and the great advantage to be derived from it was, that the last file gained ground at the same time that the front advanced. It is now exploded, and very properly, as an excessive absurdity.
To Lock, is to fasten one or more of the wheels of a carriage from going round, in going down a hill, &c.
To Lock up, to take the closest possible order inline or in file. The expression is derived from the lock-step.
Lock up! a word of command which is frequently used in the British service, to direct soldiers to take or preserve the closest possible order, especially in file-marching.
LOCKER hinges, serve to fasten the cover of the lockers in travelling carriages.