Ricochet

(re-ko's ha.) [Fr., ducks and drakes.) (Otherwise called RICOCHET-FIRING.) (Gun.) The firing of guns, mortars, howitzers, ., with small charges, and elevated a few degrees so as to carry the projectiles just over the parapet of a fortification, and cause them to roll or slightly rebound along the opposite rampart. This mode of firing was first practised by Vauban, in 1683. [s. 771]