Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

bollard

American  
[bol-erd] / ˈbɒl ərd /

noun

  1. Nautical.

    1. a thick, low post, usually of iron or steel, mounted on a wharf or the like, to which mooring lines from vessels are attached.

    2. a small post to which lines are attached.

    3. bitt.

  2. British. one of a series of short posts for excluding or diverting motor vehicles from a road, lawn, or the like.


bollard British  
/ ˈbɒlɑːd, ˈbɒləd /

noun

  1. a strong wooden or metal post mounted on a wharf, quay, etc, used for securing mooring lines

  2. a small post or marker placed on a kerb or traffic island to make it conspicuous to motorists

  3. mountaineering an outcrop of rock or pillar of ice that may be used to belay a rope

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of bollard

First recorded in 1835–45; bole 1 + -ard

Explanation

A bollard is a short post, especially one used for mooring a boat. If you visit a working harbor, you'll see many bollards. Bollards are known for being especially sturdy, strong enough that a boat securely moored there can't be blown or tossed around. Some ships also have bollards on board, for wrapping and storing unused rope. Posts used to control automobile traffic are sometimes also called bollards. The root is thought to be the Old Norse bolr, "tree trunk."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing bollard

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A French man, Damien Guerot, has been identified as the viral "Bollard Man" hero who tried to stop the killer during his stabbing spree on Saturday.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2024

That’s true, Bollard says, except for one problem: “A lot of consumers have no idea where their eggs come from.”

From National Geographic • Feb. 16, 2024

For example, Gavin Bollard, an information technology manager in Australia, who blogs about his experiences with autism, is deaf and uses hearing aids.

From Scientific American • Mar. 20, 2023

Lewis Bollard, the farm animal welfare program officer at Open Philanthropy Project, said he welcomes the increasing attention to the environmental impacts of meat, but he hopes people adopt a more inclusive definition of “sustainability.”

From Washington Post • Apr. 27, 2021

“You will be soon to rights, Mr Patch,” said Bollard, looking kindly at him.

From The Voyages of the Ranger and Crusader And what befell their Passengers and Crews. by Kingston, William Henry Giles

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "bollard" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com