_Sea-Mortar_-BEDS, are made of solid timber, having a hole in the centre to receive the pintle or strong iron bolt, about which the bed turns. Sea-mortars are mounted on these beds, on board of the bomb-ketches. These beds are placed upon very strong timber frames, fixed into the bomb-ketch, in which the pintle is fixed, so as the bed may turn about it, to fire any way. The fore part of these beds is an arc of a circle described from the same centre as the pintle-hole. _Stool_-BED, is a piece of wood on which the breech of a gun rests upon a truck-carriage, with another piece fixed to it at the hind end, that rests upon the body of the hind axle-tree; and the fore part is supported by an iron bolt. See CARRIAGE. BEEF-_Eaters_, the yeomen of the guard to the king of Great Britain are so called, being kept up rather for pageantry, than for any military service. Their arms are a sabre and lance; and the dress of the 13th century. BEETLES, in a military sense, are large wooden hammers for driving down pallisades, and for other uses, &c. BEETLESTOCK, the stock or handle of a beetle. BELLIGERENT, in a state of warfare. Hence any two or more nations at war are called belligerent powers. BELTS, in the army are of different sorts, and for various purposes, viz. _Sword_-BELT, a leathern strap in which a sword hangs. _Shoulder_-BELT, a leathern belt, which goes over the shoulder, and to which the pouch is fixed. It is made of stout leather. See POUCH. _Shoulder_-BELTS for the light cavalry and dragoons, 2¹⁄₂ inches broad. Regiments that have buff waistcoats, usually have buff-coloured accoutrements, and those which have white waistcoats, wear white. _Waist_-BELTS, are 1³⁄₄ inches; to have buckles or clasps. BELTS are known among the ancient and middle-age writers by divers names, as _zona_, _cingulum_, _reminiculum_, _ringa_, and _baldrellus_. The _belt_ was an essential piece of the ancient armor, insomuch that we sometimes find it used to denote the whole armor. In latter ages the _belt_ was given to a person when he was raised to knighthood: whence it has also been used us a badge or mark of the knightly order. BELTS among the aborigines of America, are the symbols of peace or war; they are made in a rude fanciful taste, of colored beads, and are usually presented at all conferences or talks.