among the Romans, a kind of exercise performed at a stake by the soldiers. The stake being fixed in the ground, and six feet high above it, the young undisciplined soldiers advanced against it, armed with a hurdle and cudgel, instead of a sword and shield, and went through all the rules of attack and defence, as if actually engaged with an adversary. Sometimes they stood at a distance, and attacked with missile weapons; at the same time using all the requisite motions for defending themselves, and warding off what might be thrown against them.