Step

( Pas, Fr. ) Progre ion by one removal of the foot. It likewise signifies pace. To STEP . To move forward or backward, by a single change of the place of the foot. To STEP out . To lengthen your pace. To STEP short , is to diminish or slacken your pace. On the word, step short , the foot advancing will finish its pace, and afterwards each man will step as far as the ball of his toe, and no further, until the word forward be given, when the usual pace of 24 inches is to be taken. This step is useful when a momentary retardment of either a battalion in line, or of a division in column, shall be required. See Am. Mil. Lib. To STEP out , is to lengthen the step to 30 inches, by leaning forward a little, but without altering the cadence. It is also called the charging step , or accelerated pace . This step is nece ary when a temporary exertion in line and to the front, is required; and is applied both to ordinary and quick time. These phrases are frequently used in military movements, when it is found nece ary to gain ground in front, or to give the rear of a column . time to acquire its proper distance. The officer who leads a head division should be particularly attentive, when he is ordered to step out or step short, especially in the different wheelings, not to lose the precise moment when either may be thought expedient; and in marching in open column, every succe ive officer should watch the seasonable moment, after a wheel, of preserving his relative distance. To STEP off , in a military sense, to take a prescribed pace from a halted position, in ordinary or quick time, in conformity to some given word of command or signal.