Mil. [f. LIMBER sb.1] trans. To attach the limber to (a gun). Hence absol. to fasten together the two parts of a gun-carriage, as a preparation for moving away. Usually to limber up.

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1843.  Lever, J. Hinton, vi. (1878), 34. The heavy artillery was seen to limber up, and move slowly across the field.

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1851.  Ord. & Regul. R. Engineers, xix. 95. Breadth of Shed, Guns limbered up … 40 ft. 0 in.

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1861.  Man. Field Exercise Artillery, 50. Limbering is always done at a trot.

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1868.  Kinglake, Crimea (1877), III. i. 278. The guns of Turner’s battery were limbered up and pushed forward.

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