of three years' standing, now simply
captain, but equal to colonel in the army, by date of commission.

POSTED. Promoted from commander to captain in the navy; a word no longer
officially used.

POSTERN. A small passage constructed through some retired part of a
bastion, or other portion of a work, for the garrison's minor
communications with the town, unperceived by the enemy.

POSTING. Placing people for special duty. Also, publicly handing out a
bad character.

POST OF HONOUR. The advance, and the right of the lines of any army.

POUCH. A case of strong leather for carrying ammunition, used by
soldiers, marines, and small-arm men. Also, the crop of a shark.

POUCHES. Wooden bulk-heads across the hold of cargo vessels, to prevent
grain or light shingle from shifting.

POULDRON. A shoulder-piece in armour. Corrupted from _epauldron_.

POULTERER. Called "Jemmy Ducks" on board ship; he assists the butcher in
the feeding and care of the live stock, &c.

POUND. A lagoon, or space of water, surrounded by reefs and shoals,
wherein fish are kept, as at Bermuda.

POUND-AND-PINT-IDLER. A sobriquet applied to the purser.

POUNDER. A denomination applied to guns according to the weight of the
shot they carry; at present everything larger than the 100-pounder is
described by the diameter of its bore, coupled with its total weight.

POW. A name on the Scotch shores for a small creek. Also, a mole.

POWDER. _See_ GUNPOWDER.

POWDER, TO. To salt meat slightly; as Falstaff says, "If thou embowel me
to-day, I'll give you leave to powder me, and eat me too,
to-morrow."--_Powdering-tub._ A vessel used for pickling beef, pork, &c.

POWDER-BAGS. Leathern bags containing from 20 to 40 lbs. of powder;
substituted for petards at the instance of Lord Cochrane, as being more
easily placed. They have lately been called Ghuznee bags.

POWDER-HOY. An ordnance vessel expressly fitted to convey powder from
the land magazine to a ship; it invariably carries a red distinguishing
flag, and warns the ship for which the powder is intended, to put out
all fires before she comes alongside.

POWDER-MAGAZINE. The prepared space allotted for the powder on board
ship.

POWDER-MONKEY. Formerly the boy of the gun, who had charge of the
cartridge; now powder-man.

POWDER-VESSEL. A ship used as a floating magazine.

POWER. Mechanical force; in the steam-engine it is esteemed effective,
expansive, or full. (_See_ HORSE-POWER.)

POZZOLANA.