BEAT of Drum, in the military art, is to give notice by beat of drum of a sudden danger; or, that scattered soldiers may repair to their arms and quarters, is to beat an alarm, or to arms. Also to signify, by different manners of sounding a drum, that the soldiers are to fall on the enemy; to retreat before, in, or after, an attack; to move or march from one place to another; to permit the soldiers to come out of their quarters at break of day; to order to repair to their colours, &c. is to beat a charge, a retreat, a march, &c.