Piece versée en panier ou en cage, Fr. a piece of ordnance is said to be in this situation, when it is so completely overturned, as to have the wheels of its carriage in the air. Various methods have been proposed by able engineers to raise cannon that have been overturned. See Saint Remi, Manuel de l’artilleur, and a late publication, intituled, Aide Mémoire a l’usage des Officiers d’Artillerie de France, by Gassendi.
Pieces légeres, Fr. light pieces. See [Field Pieces].
Pieces à la Suédoise, Fr. field pieces originally invented, and since used among the Swedes.
Pieces Nettes, Fr. Artillery pieces that have no defect whatever.
Pieces de Chasse, Fr. a marine term, signifying the cannon that is placed on the stern and forecastle of a ship. We call them chase-guns.
Pieces détachées, Travaux avancés en dehors, Fr. Those works which cover the body of a fortified place, towards the country; of this description are ravelins, demi-lunes, hornworks, tenailles, crown works, queues d’hironde, enveloppes, &c.
To be cut to Pieces, (Etre écharpê, Fr.) The French say, Un tel régiment, a éte écharpé. Such a regiment was cut to pieces.
PIED de Roi, Fr. a measure containing twelve French inches, or one hundred and forty lines.
Pied Quarré, Fr. The French square foot contains the same dimensions in length and breadth, giving one hundred and forty inches of surface.
Pied de toise quarrée, Fr. the sixth part of a square toise. The square toise contains 36 feet, the square foot consequently comprehends six feet, and must be considered as a rectangle.