Vaisseau Pavillon, Fr. Flag ship.
Pavillon, Fr. This word likewise signifies the swell or broad part of a speaking trumpet.
PAULETTE, Fr. a certain tax or pecuniary consideration which all persons who held public situations under the old government of France, were obliged to pay at the commencement of every year, to the king. This enabled them to sell or dispose of their appointments, and to leave the amount to their heirs, if they happened to die in the course of the year. It is so called from Paulet, the name of the person who first suggested the measure.
PAVOIS, Fr. an ancient weapon of defence. It was the Clypeus or broad shield of the Greeks and Romans.
PAUSE, a stop, cessation, or intermission. It is essentially necessary for all officers to accustom themselves to a most minute observance of the several pauses which are prescribed during the firings. Accordingly the pause betwixt each of the firing words, make ready—aim,—fire, is the same as the ordinary time, viz. the 75th part of a minute, and no other pause is to be made betwixt the words.
In firing by companies by wings, each wing carries on its fire independent, without regard to the other wing, whether it fires from the centre to the flanks, or from the flanks to the centre. If there are five companies in the wing, two pauses will be made betwixt the fire of each, and the make ready of the succeeding one. If there are four companies in the wing, three pauses will be made betwixt the fire of each, and the make ready of the succeeding one. This will allow sufficient time for the first company to have again loaded, and shouldered at the time the last company fires, and will establish proper intervals betwixt each.
In firing by grand divisions, three pauses will be made betwixt the fire of each division, and the make ready of the succeeding one.
In firing by wings, one wing will make ready the instant the other is shouldering. The commanding officer of the battalion fires the wings.
In firing companies by files each company fires independent. When the right file presents, the next makes ready, and so on. After the first fire, each man as he loads comes to the recover, and the file again fires without waiting for any other; the rear rank men are to have their eyes on their front rank-men, and be guided by, and present with them.
When troops march to music, a pause in the mind before the latter strikes off, will contribute greatly to that uniformity of step, without which no line can move correctly. In some regiments the music does not play until one step has been taken. See [Step off].