BATESME du Tropique, Fr. a christening under the line. This is a ridiculous ceremony which every person is obliged to go through the first time he crosses the Line on his passage to the East-Indies. Different methods of performing it are observed by different nations. Englishmen frequently buy themselves off. Among the French, the individual who was to be baptized or christened, swore that he would individually assist in forcing every person hereafter, who should be similarly situated, to go through the same ceremony. A barbarous usage.
BAT-Horses, -
BAW-Horses,
are baggage horses belonging to the officers when on actual duty.
Bat-Men, -
Baw-Men,
were originally servants hired in war time, to take care of the horses belonging to the train of artillery, bakery, baggage, &c. Men who are excused regimental duty, for the specific purpose of attending to the horses belonging to their officers, are called bat-men.
Knights of the BATH, an English military order of uncertain original. After long decay, this order was revived under George I. by a creation of a considerable number of knights. They wear a red riband, and their motto is, Tria juncta in uno, alluding to the three cardinal virtues which every knight ought to possess!
BATON, Fr. a staff. See Staff.
Baton a deux bouts, Fr. a quarter-staff.
Baton de commandement, Fr. an instrument of particular distinction which was formerly given to generals in the French army. Henry III. before his accession to the throne was made generalissimo of all the armies belonging to his brother Charles the IX. and publicly received the Baton, as a mark of high command.
Baton ferrat et non ferrat, Fr. all sorts of weapons.
Obténir son object par le tour du Baton, Fr. to accomplish one’s ends by equivocal means.
Etre bien assuré de son Baton, Fr. to be morally certain of a thing.
Etre reduit au Baton blanc, to be reduced to your last stake.
A Batons rompus, Fr. to do any thing by fits and starts, to be undecided in your plans of attack, &c.
BATOON, a truncheon, or marshal’s staff.
BATTAILOUS, a warlike or military appearance.
BATTALIA, Johnson adopts the word from Battaglia, Ital. and calls it the main body of an army, distinguished from its wings. It also implies an army or considerable detachment of troops drawn up in order of battle, or in any other proper form to attack the enemy. See Battle.