FLANKING

, in general, is the discovering and firing upon the side of a place, body, battalion, &c. To Flank a place, or other work, is to dispose it in such a manner as that every part of it may be played upon both in front and rear.

Flanking means also defending. Any fortification that has no defence, but just right forwards, is faulty; and to render it complete, one part ought to be made to Flank the other. Hence the curtain is always the strongest part of any place, because it is flanked at each end.

Battalions also are said to be Flanked by the wings of the cavalry. And a house is sometimes said to be Flanked with two pavilions, or two galleries; meaning it has a gallery, &c, on each side.——There are also Flanking Angle, Flanking Line of Defence, &c.

FLAT Bastion, is that which is built on a right line, as on the middle of the curtain, &c.