BRIGANDINE, or BRIGANTINE, in ancient military history, a coat of mail, or kind of defensive armor, consisting of tin. BRINGERS-_up_, an antiquated military expression, to signify the whole rear rank of a battalion drawn up, as being the hindmost men of every file. BRINS-_d’Est_, _Fr._ large sticks or poles resembling small pickets, with iron at each end. They are used to cross ditches, particularly in Flanders. BRISURE, in fortification, is a line of four or five fathom, which is allowed to the curtain and orillon, to make the hollow tower, or to cover the concealed flank. BROADSIDE, in a sea fight, implies the discharge of all the artillery on one side of a ship of war. BROAD-SWORD, a sword with a broad blade, chiefly designed for cutting; not at present much used in the British service, except by some few regiments of cavalry and Highland infantry. Among the cavalry, this weapon has in general given place to the sabre. The principal guards with the broad-sword are: The _inside guard_, (similar to carte in fencing,) which is formed by directing your point in a line about six inches higher than your antagonist’s left eye, the hilt opposite your own breast, the finger-nails turned upwards, and the edge of the sword to the left. The _outside guard_, (resembling tierce,) in which, by a turn of the wrist from the former position, the point of the sword is directed above your antagonist’s right eye, the edge of the weapon turned to the right, and the finger-nails downward; the arm sufficiently straightened to the right to protect the outside of your body from the attack. The _medium guard_, which is a position between the inside and outside guard, seldom used, as it affords very little protection. The _hanging guard_, (similar to prime and seconde) in which the hilt of your sword is raised high enough to view your opponent under the shell, and the point directed towards his body. The _St. George’s guard_, which protects the head, and differs from the last-described only in raising the hand somewhat higher, and bringing the point nearer to yourself. The swords worn by officers of the infantry being constructed either for cutting or thrusting, it is necessary for gentlemen to be acquainted both with the method of attacking and defending with the broad sword and with the rapier. Those who have not opportunity of regular lessons from a professed teacher, may obtain much useful information from a work entitled the Art of Defence on Foot, with the Broad Sword, &c. in which the spadroon or cut and thrust sword play is reduced into a regular system. BROND. See BRAND. BROWNBILL, the ancient weapon of the English foot, resembling a _battle-ax_. BRUNT. The troops who sustain the principal shock of the enemy in action, are said to bear the _brunt_ of the battle.