[F. appui, appuy (Cotgr., 1611), f. vb. appuyer: see next. Now treated as Fr., though formerly naturalized.]
† 1. Support, stay, prop. Obs. in gen. sense.
a. 1573. Lett. Lethington, in Keith, Hist. (1734), 233 (Jam.). What appuy, or of whom shall she have, being forsaken of her own and old friends?
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 538. If a Vine be to climbe Trees that are of any great height, there would be stayes and appuies set to it.
2. Mil. Defensive support. Point of appui (Fr. point d’appui): see quot. Also fig.
1809. Wellington, in Gurw., Disp., V. 44. Give an appui to my left flank.
1830. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), I. 266. Was the object to provide a point of appui for the spirit of change?
1832. Prop. Reg. Instr. Cavalry, III. 46. Point of Formation or Appui—Any fixed object or marker upon which a body of troops is directed to commence its formation into line.
3. Horsemanship. (See quot.)
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., Appui, in the manage … is the reciprocal effort between the horse’s mouth and the bridle-hand; or the sense of the action of the bridle on the hand of the horseman.
1876. C. James, Mil. Dict., 19. Horses for the army ought to have a full appui, or firm stay upon the hand.
