rasantadj.
/ˈreɪznt/, U.S. /ˈreɪz(ə)nt/ Military (now historical and rare).
Of a line of defence: sweeping; long and curving (originally so that any shot fired would only graze the target).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defence > defensive work(s) > [adjective] > guiding lines
stringent1673
rasant1691
magistral1828
1691 A. Swall tr. S. Le P. de Vauban New Method Fortification i. iv. 15 (Gloss.) Line of Defence Razant [Fr. Ligne de defence rasante], is the Line drawn from the Capital Line of a Bastion, to that part of the Curtin where the Defence begins, to discover the Face of the same Bastion.
1706 Accomplished Officer iv. 36 In this Case you must suppose razant Fortifications.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. Rasant, in fortification. Rasant Flank, or Line, is that Part of the Curtain, or Flank, whence the Shot exploded raze or glance along the Face of the opposite Bastion.
1780 Mil. Dict. at Line of Defence There are two sorts of this line; the Fichant and the Razant, or Flanking.
1830 E. S. N. Campbell Dict. Mil. Sci. at Razant A Line of Defence is razant, or grazing, when the face of the bastion produced meets the angle of the flank, in which case the fire from the flank grazes the face of the bastion defended.
1853 J. H. Stocqueler Mil. Encycl. Line of Defence..is either fichant or rayant.
1944 S. Putnam tr. E. da Cunha Rebellion in Backlands v. 256 Eight hundred rifles blazing, eight hundred rifles aimed in a rasant line down the drop of the hill.
1955 Imago Mundi 12 56 The introduction of artillery heralded a new type of wall and tower more adapted to ‘rasant’ defence.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1691