in the ancient art of war, were bundles of combustible materials, let on fire to give light in the night, or to annoy the enemy; when they were employed for the latter purpose they were shot out of a bow, or fixed to a javelin, and thus thrown into the enemies engines, ships, &c. in order to burn them. Pitch was always a principal ingredient in the composition. The malleoli had also the name of pyro-boli.