traversing

The motion of the cutting tool in a machine: strictly, it denotes the motion across the work, but is popularly extended to mean the same as ‘travel’ (of the tool or its carriage). Originally, it was the horizontal angular motion of a gun-carriage.

Adjustable laterally; having a lateral motion, or a swinging motion; adapted for giving lateral motion.

one of two thick iron plates at the hinder part of a gun carriage, where the handspike is applied in traversing the piece.

a platform for traversing guns.

Present participle of traverse.