Laying is the skill of making equipment level. It usually involves moving equipment in small motions so that spirit levels are centralised in all planes. Movement is usually done by small worm gears or other fine setting devices for accurate small movements, together with other more coarse gears to allow large swings in motion for quick movement between different settings.
Equipment that requires laying before it is can be used accurately includes:
- theodolites
- guns and howitzers in the indirect fire mode
Famous quotes containing the word laying:
“Geoff Carter: Got a match?
Bonnie Lee: Say, don’t you ever have any?
Geoff: No, don’t believe in laying in a supply of anything.
Bonnie: Matches, marbles, money, women.
Geoff: That’s right.
Bonnie: No looking ahead, no tomorrows, just today.
Geoff: That’s right.”
—Jules Furthman (1888–1960)
“Therefore the skilful leader subdues the enemy’s troops without any fighting; he captures their cities without laying siege to them; he overthrows their kingdom without lengthy operations in the field.”
—Sun Tzu (6th–5th century B.C.)
“Whenever any form of government shall become destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, & to institute new government, laying it’s foundation on such principles & organising it’s powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety & happiness.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)