or FLANGE, in the manege, is applied to the sides of a horse's buttocks, &c. In a strict sense, the flanks of a horse are the extremes of the belly, where the ribs are wanting, and are below the loins.

The flanks of a horse should be full, and at the top of each a feather. The distance between the last rib and haunch-bone, which is properly the flank, should be short, which they term well coupled, such horses being most hardy, and fit to endure labour.

A horse is said to have no flank if the last of the short ribs be at a considerable distance from the haunch-bone; as also when the ribs are too much straightened in their compass.

in War, is used by way of analogy for the side of a battalion, army, &c., in contradiction to the front and rear.

To attack the enemy in flank, is to discover and fire upon them on the side. See FILE.

in Fortification, is a line drawn from the extremity of the face towards the inside of the work.

Or, flank is that part of a battalion which reaches from the curtain to the face, and defends the opposite face, the flank, and the curtain. See FORTIFICATION.

Oblique or Second Flank, or Flank of the Curtain, is that part of the curtain from whence the face of the opposite battalion can be seen, being contained between the lines rafant and fichant, or the greater and lesser lines of defence; or the part of the curtain between the flank and the point where the fichant line of defence terminates.

Covered, Low, or Retired Flank, is the platform of the casement, which lies hid in the battalion; and is otherwise called the Orillon.

Fichant Flank, is that from whence a cannon playing, fires directly on the face of the opposite battalion.

Rafant or Rozant Flank, is the point from whence the line of defence begins, from the conjunction of which with the curtain, the shot only rafeth the face of the next battalion, which happens when the face cannot be discovered but from the flank alone.