MORTAR

, or Mortar-Piece, a short piece of ordnance, thick and wide, proper for throwing bombshells, carcases, stones, grape-shot, &c.

It is thought that the use of Mortars is older than that of cannon: for they were employed in the wars of Italy, to throw balls of red-hot iron, and stones, long before the invention of shells: and it is generally believed that the Germans were the first inventors. The practice of throwing red-hot balls out of Mortars, was first practised at the siege of Stralfund in 1675, by the elector of Brandenburg; though some say, in 1653, at the siege of Bremen.

Mortars are made either of brass or iron, and it is usual to distinguish them by the diameter of the bore; as, the 13 inch, the 10 inch, or the 8 inch Mortar: there are some of a smaller sort, as Coehorns of 4.6 inches, and Royals of 5.8 inches in diameter. As to the larger sizes, as 18 inches, &c, they are now disused by the English, as well as most other European nations. For the circumstances reiating to Mortars, see Muller's Artillery.

Coeborn Mortar, a small kind of one, invented by the celebrated engineer baron Coehorn, to throw small shells or grenades. These Mortars are often fixed, to the number of a dozen, on a block of oak, at the elevation of 45°.