fortlet (fortlet)

[ fortnight (fort'nit or nit), n. [ Here in the temple of the godde e Clemence We have ben waytynge al this fourtenight . Chaucer, Knight's Tale, L. 71. From the haven of Linne in Norfolke... to Island, it is not aboue a fortnight's sailing with an ordinarie winde. Hakluyt's Voyages , I. 122. Nurse. How long is it now To Lammas-tide? La . Cap . A fortnight , and odd days. Shak ., R. and J., 1. 3. night: as, a fortnightly mail. Timidity was fortified by pride, and even the succe of my pen discouraged the trial of my voice. Gibbon , Life. fortnightly (fort'nit-li or-nit-li), a. [ fortnight 2. Specifically, to surround with defensive + -ly1 .] Occurring or appearing once a fort- works, with a view to resist the a aults of an enemy; strengthen and secure by walls, bat- teries, or other means of defense; render de- fensible against attack: as, to fortify a city, town, or harbor. IMG:content-1741.png:[blocks in formation] Master Samuel Iorden gathered together but a few of the stragglers about him at Beg gers bush, where he fort i. fied and liued in despight of the enemy. Quoted in Capt . John Smith's Works, II. 76. I at once put all the troops at Savannah in motion for Pittsburg Landing, knowing that the enemy was fortify U. S. Grant, Personal Memoirs, I. 331. The gloves of an Otter are the best fortification for your for til a get, n. [Another form of fortalice , q. v.] hands that can be thought of against wet weather. Fortification is, in short, the art of enabling the weak to resist the strong. Encyc. Brit ., IX. 421. 3. That which fortifies, strengthens, or pro- ing at Corinth and collecting an army there under John- tects. I. Walton , Complete Angler, p. 59. Specifically-4. A military work, consisting of a wall, ditch, palisades, etc., constructed for the purpose of strengthening a position; a for tified place; a fort; a castle. Fortifications are divided into permanent and temporary or field fortifica tions. Permanent fortifications are works required to remain effective for any length of time, for the purpose IMG:content-1742.png:[blocks in formation] Section of Fortified Wall. (Interior on the left; exterior on the right.) of defending important positions, as cities, harbors, arsenals, etc. Temporary or field fortifications are designed to strengthen a post that is to be occupied only for a limited period. The figure represents a section of a fortified wall. a, a, is the abatis; b, b, the counterscarp; c, c, the palisade; d, d, the scarp; f, f, the fraise; f, e, g, g, the parapet; h, the banquette; and i, g, the breast-height. For definitions of these, see the words. That done, I will be walking on the works; Repair there to me.. This fortification , gentlemen, shall we see 't? Shak ., Othello, iii. 2. Systems of fortification, special methods of arranging and constructing the works in and around a fortified place, so that the different parts shall be correlative. These methods have been designated by engineers, according to the plan of the enceinte, as (a) the circular or curvilinear system, (b) the polygonal or caponiere system, (c) the tenail led system, and ( d ) the bastioned system. To these in modern times may be added the armored or tur reted system. Mahan. Syn. Fortification, Bulwark, Castle, Citadel, Fort, Fortre , Mamelon, Rampart, Redan, Redoubt. Fortification is the only one of these words that is used for the art or science, or for all cla es of de fensive works; the others represent kinds of fortification. Thus, fortre represents a large, and fort generally, but not always, a smaller stronghold, defensible on all sides, as Fortre Monroe, Fort Sumter. See the definitions of the words.