Platform

in the military art, an elevadion of earth, on which cannon is placed, to fire on the enemy; such are the mounts in the middle of curtins. On the rampart there is al-" ways a platform, where the cannon are mount- ‘ed. It is made by the heaping up of earth on the rampart, or by an arrangement of madriers, rising insensibly, for the cannon to roll on, either in a casemate, or on attack in the eut-works. All practitioners are agreed, that no shot can be depended on, unle the prece can be laced on a solid platform; for if the plat- ‘orm shakes wiih the first impulse of the powder, the piece must likewise shake, which will alter its direction, and render the shot uncertain. PeatroxmM, in architecture, is a row of beatns, which support the timber-work of a yoof, and lie on the top of the wall, where the entablature ought to be raised. This term is also used fora kind of terrace, or broad, smooth, Open walk at the top of a_ building, from whence a fair prospect may be taken of the adjacent country. Hence an edifice is said to be covered with a platform, when it Is flat at top, and has no ridge. Most of the oriental buildings are thus covered, as were all those of the ancients. PcuaTrorM, or Ortop, in a man of war, a place on the lower deck, abaft the main-mast, between it and the cockpit, and round about the main capsian, where provision is made for the wounded mea in time of action.