PILE, Fr. A species of javelin which was used by the Romans. They darted these weapons with so much force, that, according to tradition, two men have been pierced through, together with their shields or bucklers.
Piles, strong pieces of wood, driven into the ground to make a firm foundation for any kind of work.
To PILE or stack arms, to place three musquets with six bayonets in such a relative position, that the butts shall remain firm upon the ground, and the muzzles be close together in an oblique direction. This method has been adopted to prevent the injury which was formerly done to musquetry, when the practice of grounding the firelock prevailed. Every recruit should be taught how to pile or stack arms before he is dismissed the drill.
PILE, any heap; as a pile of balls, shells, &c.
Piles of shot or shells, are generally piled up in the magazines, in three different manners: the base is either a triangular square, or a rectangle; and from thence the piles are called triangular, square, and oblong.
Table, of Triangular Piles of Shot.
| Side. | Con- tent. | Side. | Con- tent. | Side. | Con- tent. | Side. | Con- tent. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4 | 13 | 473 | 24 | 437 | 35 | 7486 |
| 3 | 10 | 14 | 574 | 25 | 751 | 36 | 8184 |
| 4 | 20 | 15 | 696 | 26 | 3091 | 37 | 9322 |
| 5 | 35 | 16 | 731 | 27 | 3458 | 38 | 10131 |
| 6 | 56 | 17 | 883 | 28 | 3853 | 39 | 10981 |
| 7 | 84 | 18 | 1043 | 29 | 4277 | 40 | 11871 |
| 8 | 120 | 19 | 1222 | 30 | 4731 | 41 | 12807 |
| 9 | 165 | 20 | 1540 | 31 | 5216 | 42 | 13730 |
| 10 | 220 | 21 | 1641 | 32 | 5733 | 43 | 14659 |
| 11 | 296 | 22 | 1883 | 33 | 6283 | 44 | 15585 |
| 12 | 384 | 23 | 2148 | 34 | 6867 | 45 | 16511 |
Explanation. The numbers in the 1st, 3d, 5th, and 7th vertical columns, express the number of shot in the base or side of each triangular pile; and the numbers in the 2d, 4th, 6th, and 8th vertical columns, express the number of shot in each pile.
Rules for finding the number in any Pile.
Triangular Pile.