in War, a centinel on horseback, with his horse's head towards the place whence any danger is to be feared, and his carbine advanced, with the butt-end against his right thigh. When the army has encamped, there are vedettes posted at all the avenues, and on all the rising grounds, to watch for its security.

To VEER and HAUL, to pull a rope tight, by drawing it in and slackening it alternately, till the body to which it is applied acquires an additional motion, like the increased vibrations of a pendulum, so that the rope is strained to a greater tension with more facility and dispatch. This method is particularly used in hauling the bowlines.

The wind is said to veer and haul when it alters its direction, and becomes more or less fair. Thus it is said to veer aft and to haul forward. Veer, Ter-Veer, anciently Camp-Veer, a town of Zealand in the United Provinces, standing at the mouth of the East Schelde, about four miles from Middleburgh, and eight from Flushing. Veer, in Dutch, signifies a passage or ferry over an arm of the sea or a river; and as there was once a ferry here over the Schelde to the village of Compem, on the island of North Beveland, the town thereby got the name of Veer, Camp-Veer, and Ter-Veer. It is well fortified, and formerly enjoyed a good trade, especially to Scotland; the natives enjoying particular privileges here. The harbour is very good, and the arsenal the best furnished in the world. Hence the Veres, anciently earls of Oxford, are said to have derived both their origin and name.