No, Chugalug2, as it refers to a Nelsonian act, I doubt whether there is a suitable Latin equivalent - even the Royal Navy doesn't go quite that far back into history!

'Fraid so, BEags. Not through choice, I should add. I made me a better person :sad: Now I know how not to use a gerund in conjunction with a past participle. How did I ever manage before that?

Chugalu2,

I like BEags answer to that one. I shall see if I can find a suitable phrase, but for now, one could simply say ignorare - to ignore. Not terribly catch, is it? There must be something better, maybe Pliny or Ovid. This may take a while.

[Edit: just thought of avertas oculos - avert your eyes - but still not quite the same.]

Beags:
Perhaps because the Legions would never dream of going to war with knowingly not-fit-for-purpose Ballistas, for example? Nor perhaps would Nelson (re ships rather than Ballistas of course), who famously turned a blind eye to a direct order in order to do his duty. A complete reversal of the modern practice of turning a blind eye to one's duty, in order to obey a direct illegal order! I agree that the concept would have been anathema to the ancient world. So perhaps they did not have a word for it after all, as you both say.

These things having been said however, notwithstanding the darts and spears of the having been drawn up barbarians, in order for the ramparts of the citadel to be attacked, the ballistas of the legion throwing-worthy must have been.

;)

Your ablative absolutes seem to be merging into Star Wars, Beagle minor. See me after school!