PARADE, originally consisted of a square court before cathedrals, surrounded with piazzas or porticoes for persons to walk under, being supported with pillars. It is now used in a military sense, to signify any place where troops assemble, and may be distinguished in the following manner:
General Parade, the place where soldiers belonging to different corps are drawn up, according to seniority, to mount guard, or to be exercised, &c.
Regimental Parade, the place where any particular regiment or corps is formed in line, &c.
Private Parade, any spot selected, in general by each captain of a troop or company, for the inspection of his men, previous to their being marched off to the regimental parade. This parade is likewise called company or troop parade. When troops are encamped, the general and regimental parades are usually in front of the line of tents; each regiment having its quarter-guard opposite, and the space between being sufficient to allow of the free exercise of the battalion. The companies have their private parades in the several streets of the camp.
Parade, in camp, is that spot of ground in the front of each encampment, between the camp colors, on the right and left wings.
Morning Parade. In every garrison town, fortified place and camp, as well as in every town through which soldiers pass, or occasionally halt, a certain hour in the morning is fixed for the assembling of the different corps, troops, or companies, in regular order.
Evening Parade. The hour generally fixed for the evening parade is at sunset. When troops are encamped, the signal for evening parade is given from the park of artillery, by the discharge of a piece of ordnance, which is called the evening gun.
To Parade, to assemble in a prescribed regular manner, for the purposes of being inspected, exercised, or mustered.
To Parade. This word is frequently used as an active verb, with respect to military matters, viz. to parade the guard, &c. It has likewise been adopted in Ireland to express the act of calling out a person in an affair of honor. The Irish familiarly say—I shall parade the gentleman to-morrow morning in the Phœnix Park.
Parade, Fr. The French make use of this term in various ways.