concertina wire

[ kon-ser-tee-nuh wahyuhr ]

noun

1. wire with razor-sharp edges or projections, placed in coils as a barrier along the tops of fences or walls, as at a prison, or on the ground to impede advancing enemy troops.

Word History and Origins

Origin of concertina wire¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

One might imagine Andy Gill’s guitar strung with concertina wire, so razorous is his sound, inspiring generations of guitarists to bring the noise.

From Washington Post

At a meeting of prominent Zabul women, she casually mentioned that her office needed a higher fence and concertina wire.

From The Daily Beast