La POINTE, Fr. the point of the sword.
Point is also a steel instrument of various use in several arts. Engravers, etchers, wood-cutters, stone-cutters, &c. use points to trace their designs on copper, wood, or stone.
Point blank, (But en blanc, Fr.) in gunnery, denotes the shot of a piece levelled horizontally, without either mounting or sinking the muzzle. In shooting thus, the bullet is supposed to go in a direct line, and not to move in a curve, as bombs and highly elevated random shots do. We say supposed to go in a direct line, because it is certain, and easily proved, that a shot cannot fly any part of its range in a right line strictly taken; but the greater the velocity, the nearer it approaches to a right line; or the less crooked its range.
For the point blank ranges of different pieces of ordnance, see the different natures.
The French point blank or but en blanc, is what the English artillery call the line of metal elevation; in most guns between one and two degrees.
Pointer, Fr. to point; as, pointer un canon. To point a cannon.
POINTEURS, Fr. Levellers. Officers in the old French artillery, who were subordinate to the extraordinary commissaries; but who were never employed except upon field service.
Points d’appui, Fr. Basis, support. The general signification of this term expresses the different advantageous posts, such as castles, fortified villages, &c. which the general of an army takes possession of in order to secure his natural position. In a more limited sense, they mean those points which are taken up in movements and evolutions. See Point d’appui. Am. Mil. Lib.
POINTING of a gun or mortar, is the placing either one or other, so as to hit the object, or to come as near it as possible.
To POISON a Piece, (Enclouer une piéce, Fr.) in gunnery, to clog or nail it up.