stand-to
Dawn readiness order
Stand-to is a military term for the state of readiness assumed at times of expected attack, particularly at dawn and dusk when visibility shifts favor surprise.
Troops would literally stand to their posts, weapons ready: The battalion stood to at 0500.
The noun refers to this period of alert: Morning stand-to lasted half an hour.
The practice was especially associated with trench warfare in World War I.
Day's first glow
- alertWarning or watchfulness
- readinessState of being prepared
- trenchLong narrow excavation
- sentryGuard on duty
rifle · bayonet · formation · duty · vigilance · positions · warfare · morning
Vessel's steering mechanism
- tillerBoat steering lever
- coursePlanned path forward
- steeringControlling direction of movement
- bearingPosture or orientation
heading · seamanship · navigation · windward · sail · rudder · close-hauled · maneuver
dawn
Day's first glow
sentry · rifle · bayonet · formation · duty · vigilance · positions · warfare · morning · defensive
helm
Vessel's steering mechanism
bearing · heading · seamanship · navigation · windward · sail · rudder · close-hauled · maneuver · vessel
stand-tostand-down
Withdrawal from combat readiness
stand easy · at ease · off-duty · rest · leave
stand-toat ease
Relaxed, not tense
stand easy · parade rest · fall out · dismiss · stand down
standing, understand, understanding, stood, stands, outstanding, withstand, notwithstanding, misunderstanding