ALARM _Bell_, the bell rung upon any sudden emergency, as a fire, mutiny, approach of an enemy, or the like, called by the French, Tocsin. ALCANTARA, knights of a Spanish military order, who gained a great name during the wars with the Moors. ALERT, originally derived from the French word _alerte_, which is formed of _a_ and _airte_. The French formerly said _airte_ for _air_; so that _alerte_ means something continually in the air, and always ready to be put in action. A general is said to be _alert_ when he is particularly vigilant. _To be kept upon the alert_, is to be in continual apprehension of being surprised. _Alerte_, among the French, is an expression which is used to put soldiers upon their guard. It is likewise used by a post that may be attacked in the night, to give notice to the one that is destined to support it; and by a sentry to give warning when any part of the enemy is approaching. _We have had an alert_, is a military phrase. ALGEBRA, a peculiar kind of arithmetic, in which every military man ought to be versed, but which is indispensibly necessary for officers in the ordnance department. ALIEN, in law, implies a person born in a foreign country, in contradistinction to a natural born or naturalized person. ALIGNEMENT, implies any thing strait--For instance, the _alignement_ of a battalion means the situation of a body of men when drawn up in line. The _alignement_ of a camp signifies the relative position of the tents, &c. so as to form a strait line, from given points. ALLAY. See ALLOY. ALLÆ, in the ancient military art, the two wings or extremes of an army ranged in order of battle. ALLEGIANCE, in law, implies the obedience which is due to the laws. _Oath of_ ALLEGIANCE, is that taken by an alien, by which he adopts America and renounces the authority of a foreign government. It is also applied to the oath taken by officers and soldiers in pledge of their fidelity to the state. ALLEGIANT, loyal, faithful to the laws. ALLEZER, to cleanse the mouth of a cannon or other piece of ordnance, and to increase the bore, so as to produce its determined calibre. ALLEZOIR, a frame of timber firmly suspended in the air with strong cordage, on which is placed a piece of ordnance with the muzzle downwards. In this situation the bore is rounded and enlarged by means of an instrument which has a very sharp and strong edge made to traverse the bore by the force of machinery or horses, and in an horizontal direction. ALLEZURES, the metal taken from the cannon by boring. ALLIAGE, a term used by the French to denote the composition of metals used for the fabrication of cannon and mortars, &c.