PASSE-Mur, Fr. a piece of ordnance formerly so called, which carried a sixteen pound ball, and weighed four thousand two hundred pounds.
Passe-par-tout, Fr. a large saw, the teeth of which are irregularly made, for the purpose of cutting forest trees asunder.
Passe-par-tout, Fr. a master key.
Passe-vogue, Fr. Any extraordinary effort that is made in rowing is so called.
Passe-Parole, Fr. This expression is used among the French in an absolute sense, and signifies to give the parole, order, or countersign. When troops are on service, or upon duty, they have frequent occasion to adopt it, especially during the rounds. Avance passe-parole. Advance, and give the parole or countersign.
Passe-Volant, Fr. any man that is not really in the service, and who stands to be mustered for the purpose of completing the supposed number of effectives in a regiment, or on board a ship of war. They are likewise called soldats prêtés, Borrowed soldiers. During the existence of the old French government, the strictest regulations were made to prevent the gross impositions that were sometimes practised by means of passe-volans or faggots.
Passe-Volans likewise means those wooden pieces of ordnance which are made to resemble real artillery, and fill up the vacant places in a ship. They were first adopted by the French, in consequence of a regulation which was made by M. de Pontchartrain, when he became minister of the marine department. He gave orders, that no vessels, except such as carried 16 guns, should sail to and from America. In order to comply, at least in outward appearance, with this regulation, the merchants had recourse to pass-volans, or wooden substitutes, they are called by us quaker guns. More advantages than one are indeed derived from this invention, which has been adopted in every civilized country.
Passe-chevaux, Fr. ferry for horses.
PASSER, Fr. to pass. This word has various significations both in French and English, but chiefly in the former language.
Passer en revue, Fr. to muster.