cordon

[kawr-dn]

noun

1. a line of police, sentinels, military posts, warships, etc., enclosing or guarding an area.

2. a cord or braid worn for ornament or as a fastening.

3. a ribbon worn usually diagonally across the breast as a badge of a knightly or honorary order.

4. Fortification.

   1. a projecting course of stones at the base of a parapet.

   2. the coping of a scarp.

5. Architecture.

   1. a stringcourse, especially one having little or no projection.

   2. a cut-stone riser on a stepped ramp or the like.

6. a fruit tree or shrub trained to grow along a support or a series of such supports.

verb (used with object)

1. to surround or blockade with or as with a cordon (usually followed byoff ).

   The police cordoned off the street.

cordon

/ ˈkɔːdən /

noun

1. a chain of police, soldiers, ships, etc, stationed around an area

2. a ribbon worn as insignia of honour or rank

3. a cord or ribbon worn as an ornament or fastening

4. Also called: string course.  belt course.  table. architect an ornamental projecting band or continuous moulding along a wall

5. horticulture a form of fruit tree consisting of a single stem bearing fruiting spurs, produced by cutting back all lateral branches

verb

1. to put or form a cordon (around); close (off)

Word History and Origins

Origin of cordon¹

1400–50; Middle English < Middle French, diminutive of corde

Word History and Origins

Origin of cordon¹

C16: from Old French, literally: a little cord, from corde string, _cord

Example Sentences

The area was cordoned off by police overnight but the cordons have since been lifted and the road has reopened.

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The street has been closed off throughout the day, but the cordon has now been lifted, police said.

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It's impossible to cordon off entire beaches – ocean conditions are too strong and would simply wash the nets away.

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At 11:15 a white lorry marked "Bomb Disposal" arrived at the scene and went behind the police cordon that had been set up around the synagogue.

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As darkness fell, the first vehicles were eventually allowed to leave the massive police cordon.

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Related Words

• identification 
• insignia 
• marker 
• medallion 
• pin 
• ribbon 
• stamp 
• symbol 
• token