BENDINGS, in military and sea matters, are ropes, wood, &c. bent for several purposes. M. Amontons gives several experiments concerning the _bending_ of ropes. The friction of a rope _bent_, or wound round an immovable cylinder, is sufficient, with a very small power, to sustain very great weights. Divers methods have been contrived for _bending_ timber, in order to supply crooked planks and pieces for building ships; such as by sand, boiling water, steam of boiling water, and by fire. See M. Du Hamel, in his book called _Du Transport, de la Conservation, & de la Force des Bois_. M. Delesme ingeniously enough proposed to have the young trees bent, while growing in the forest. The method of _bending_ planks by sand-heat, now used in the British navy yards, was invented by captain Cumberland. A method has been lately invented and practised for _bending_ pieces of timber, so as to make the wheels of carriages without joints. The _bending_ of boards, and other pieces of timber for curved works in joinery, is effected by holding them to the fire, then giving them the figure required, and keeping them in this figure by tools for the purpose. BENEFICIARII, in ancient military history, denotes soldiers who attend the chief officers of the army, being exempted from all other duty. In the American service called _waiters_; each commissioned officer being allowed one. BENEFICIARII were also soldiers discharged from the military service or duty, and provided with _beneficia_ to subsist on. BERM, in fortification, is a little space or path, of about 3, 4, 6, or 8 feet broad, according to the height and breadth of the works, between the ditch and the parapet, when made of turf, to prevent the earth from rolling into the ditch; and serves likewise to pass and repass. _To_ BESIEGE, to lay siege to or invest any place with armed forces. BESIEGERS, the army that lays siege to a fortified place. BESIEGED, the garrison that defends the place against the army that lays siege to it. See SIEGE. _To_ BETRAY, to deliver perfidiously any place or body of troops into the hands of the enemy. To discover that which has been entrusted to secrecy. BETTY, a machine used for forcing open gates or doors. See PETARD. BICOQUE, _Fr._ a term used in France to signify a place ill-fortified and incapable of much defence. It is derived from a place on the road between Lodi and Milan, which was originally a gentleman’s country house surrounded by ditches. In the year 1522, a body of Imperial troops were stationed in it, and stood the attack of the whole French army, during the reign of Francis I. This engagement was called the battle of _Bicoque_. BILBO, a rapier, or small sword, was formerly so called: from Bilboa in Spain, where excellent swords are made. BILL or BILL-HOOK, a small hatchet used for cutting wood for fascines, gabions, bavins, &c.