POISSON, Fr. literally means fish.

POITREL, armor for the breast of a horse.

POIX, Fr. pitch.

Poix résine, Fr. Rosin.

POLACRE, Fr. A lappel coat.

POLACRE, or Polaque, Fr. a Levantine vessel, which carries a smack sail on the mizen and mizen mast, and square sails on the main mast and bowsprit.

POLAIRE, Fr. Polar.

POLE, in a four wheel carriage, is fastened to the middle of the hind axle-tree, and passes between the fore axle-tree and its bolster, fastened with the pole-pin, so as to move about it; keeping the fore and hind carriages together. It is also called the tongue.

POLES, in castrametation, long round pieces of wood, by which a marquee or tent is supported. There are three sorts, viz.

Ridge Pole, a long round piece of wood, which runs along the top of an officer’s tent or marquee, and is supported by two other poles, viz.