in the military art, an elevation of earth, on which cannon is placed, to fire on the enemy; such are the mounts in the middle of curtains. On the ramparts there is always a platform, where the cannon are mounted. It is made by the heaping up of earth on the rampart, or by an arrangement of madders, rising insensibly, for the cannon to roll on, either in a casemate, or on attack in the outworks. All Platform, practitioners are agreed, that no shot can be depend- ed on, unless the piece can be placed on a solid plat- form; for if the platform shakes with the first im- pulse of the powder, the piece must likewise shake, which will alter its directions and render the shot un- certain.

architecture, is a row of beams, which support the timber-work of a roof, and lie on the top of a wall, where the entablature ought to be raised.

This term is also used for a kind of terrace, or broad smooth open walk at the top of a building, from whence a fair prospect may be taken of the ad- jacent country. Hence an edifice is said to be covered with a platform, when it is flat at top, and has no ridge. Most of the Oriental buildings are thus covered, as were all those of the ancients.

Orlop, in a man of war, a place on the lower deck, abaft the main mast, between it and the cockpit, and round about the main captain, where provision is made for the wounded men in time of ac- tion.