_To_ CUT _through_. A small body of brave men, headed by a good officer, will frequently extricate itself from apparent captivity, or destruction, by cutting its way through superior force. CUTLER, a military artificer, whose business is to forge, temper, and mount all sorts of sword blades. CUTTING-_off_. See RETRENCHMENT. CUVETTE, in fortification, is a small ditch of 10 or 12 feet broad, made in the middle of a large dry ditch, about 4 or 4¹⁄₂ feet deep, serving as a retrenchment to defend the ditch, or else to let water in, (if it can be had during a siege,) and afford an obstacle, should the enemy endeavor to cross the fosse. CYCLOPOEDIA. See ENCYCLOPOEDIA. CYCLOID, a curve in geometry. CYLINDER, or _concave cylinder of a gun_, is all the hollow length of the piece, or bore. See CANNON. _Charged_ CYLINDER, the chamber, or that part which receives the powder and ball. See CANNON. _Vacant_ CYLINDER, that part of the hollow or bore which remains empty when the piece is loaded. CYMAR, a slight covering; a scarf. CYMBAL, in ancient military history, a war-like musical instrument in use among the ancients, made of brass and silver. They are derived from Asia, where they are of a variety of sizes. They are now used by the British and other European nations, in their martial music. CZAR, in military history, a title assumed by the great dukes, or, as they are now stiled, emperors of all the Russias. This title is no doubt, by corruption, taken from _Cæsar_, emperor; and the Czars accordingly bear an eagle, as the symbol of their empire. The first that bore this title was Basil, the son of Basilides, about the year 1470. The Empress is called the Czarina or Tzarina. D. DAGGER, in military affairs, a short sword, or poinard, about 12 or 13 inches long. It is not long since, that duellists fought with sword and dagger. DAGUE, _Fr._ dagger, a short thick poniard which was formerly used when individuals engaged in single combat. DAM. See DYKE. DAME, _Fr._ among miners any portion of earth which may remain after the explosion of a mine has taken place. It likewise means a piece of wood with two handles used to press down turf or dirt in a mortar. DARE, a challenge or defiance to single combat. DARRAIN. See BATTLE-_array_. DART, in ancient military history, implies a small kind of lance, thrown by the hand. DAY, in a military sense implies any time in which armies may be engaged, from the rising of one day’s sun to that of another. According to Johnson it signifies the day of contest, the contest, the battle. DAYSMAN, an umpire of the combat was so called. DEBANDADE. _A la débandade_, helter-skelter. _Se battre à la débandade_, to fight in a loose, dispersed manner. _Laisser à la débandade_, to leave at random, or in disorder. DEBARK, See DISEMBARK.