I came across a term “point at cavalry” that google could not help find. The search function on this thread wasn’t very helpful either.
It was used by Cyrano de Bergerac as a metaphor for his long nose, and I’m wondering if there is an actual archaic military term associated with it.
Many of us haven’t yet gotten around to Cyrano. A quote of the whole paragraph and description of the circumstances surrounding the use of the term might help.
Another translation was:
Said during a slew of insults right?
I interpreted this to mean as a use of the nose, not a particular military phrase…
As in “It is so big you could point it at a cavalry charge” OR maybe “use it as a lance” - that kind of thing.
Could be wrong though…
Here ya go, Dave. 
The context in which it was used:
A character makes fun of Cyrano for his big nose by saying something really simple along the lines of “your nose is rather large.”
So Cyrano (smart with words) goes on listing a string of insults that could be used to insult his big nose, showing everyone how stupid the original insulter is for saying something so simple.
Eventually he gets to this term “point at cavalry” and I’m wondering how it might apply as an insult to his big nose.
Dinoboy: Can you be more specific as to what Cyrano thought his nose would have done if it was pointed at the cavalry charge? And did cavalry in Cyrano’s times use lances?
Cyrano is comparing his proboscis to a pike. The pike was a longish, say 12 feet or more, spear used to defend foot soldiers, archers, musketeers and the like, from the unwanted advances of cavalry. So when he says, “Point at cavalry” he refers to the proverbial ten-foot pole.
Not in western Europe - there they used pistols and long, straight swords, like the one that went through Gustavus Adolphus. The Poles would continue to use the lance, and various other Eastern horsemen were still using curved sabers. Western Europe would incorporate these, but not for a few years.
Cyrano is referring to the pikemen who held off cavalry assaults while the musketeers among the pikes loaded and fired.
Infantry men used pikes, Cavalrymen used lances. A lighter sort of pointy-speary-thing.
Some Cavalry Regiments are designated as ‘Lancers’ for historical reasons (They traditionally have a yellow stripe on their trousers.)
Have you seen the Steve Martin movie Roxanne?