from the French baionette, and so called, it is said, because this weapon was first made at Bayonne. It is a kind of three-sided dagger-like weapon, which was originally screwed into the muzzle of the gun; and thus it could only be used after the piece was discharged. The bayonet is now made with a hollow iron handle, which embraces the muzzle exteriorly, so that the soldier fires with his bayonet fixed. The original invention as well as the subsequent improvement of this weapon is due to the French, who were also the first to employ it; and, according to Fo-lard, gained important advantages in consequence, before the use of it became general. Its great advantage consists in rendering the musket a pike, and thus providing the soldier with a weapon which he can at all times employ, either to resist an attack of cavalry, or to charge the enemy's infantry. See Guibert, Essai Général de Tactique. This weapon was formerly called dagger; and in some old English authors it is written bagonet.