pontoon

• Goldsmith said, "We will lose him now," but Burke still stuck by his coffeehouse companions and used them as a pontoon to bridge the gulf 'twixt Bohemia and Piccadilly In the meantime he had written a book for Dodsley on "English Settlements in North America," and this did Burke more good than any one else, as it caused him to focus his inquiring mind on the New World. —  Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great, Volume 7 Little Journeys to the Homes of Eminent Orators
• The singular blunder by which General Thomas's pontoon-train was sent toward Murfreesboro' instead of Franklin added somewhat to the delay, but probably did not essentially change the result The state of all the roads except the one turnpike, the soft condition of the fields everywhere, the bad weather,--rain, sleet, and ice,--made the movements of troops which were necessary to an effective pursuit extremely difficult, and often impossible. —  Forty-Six Years in the Army
• The bottom-planking was laid athwartships, and four of the planks at equal distances from each other were carried right through from pontoon to pontoon--the pontoons being built with a space of six feet clear between them--thus securely connecting the two pontoons together. —  The Missing Merchantman
• Then, the Mexicans attacked the pontoon-bearers so furiously that it was impossible for them to raise it up again. —  South American Fights and Fighters And Other Tales of Adventure
• It was as if all the dark shadows that have so long hung over this Southern land had flitted away, and, in this garment of purest white, it shone forth transfigured, beautified, forevermore On returning to the house, we were met by the exciting news that the Rebels were bringing up pontoon-bridges, and were expected to attempt crossing over near the Ferry, which was only two or three miles from us. —  The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 13, No. 80, June, 1864

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