palisade

American  

[pal-uh-seyd] / ˌpæl əˈseɪd /

noun

1. a fence of pales or stakes set firmly in the ground, as for enclosure or defense.

2. any of a number of pales or stakes pointed at the top and set firmly in the ground in a close row with others to form a defense.

3. Botany. palisade parenchyma.

4. palisades, a line of cliffs.

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verb (used with object)

palisaded, palisading

1. to furnish or fortify with a palisade.

palisade British  

/ ˌpælɪˈseɪd /

noun

1. a strong fence made of stakes driven into the ground, esp for defence

2. one of the stakes used in such a fence

3. botany a layer of elongated mesophyll cells containing many chloroplasts, situated below the outer epidermis of a leaf blade

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verb

1. (tr) to enclose with a palisade

Other Word Forms

• unpalisaded
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of palisade

1590–1600; < French palissade < Old Provençal palissada, equivalent to paliss ( a ) paling (derivative of pal stake, pale ² ) + -ada -ade ¹

Explanation

A palisade is a heavy-duty fence that's strong enough to keep out intruders, like one you might see around a military camp. Traditionally, palisades were built with wooden stakes around small forts or castles as a way to keep out enemies. There's evidence that this kind of fence was often used in ancient Greece and Rome. More modern palisades are made out of metal and give protection to houses in dangerous neighborhoods, for example. The root word is the Latin palus, which means "stake."

Example Sentences

Car-shopping site Edmunds named the Palisade its top-rated SUV for 2026.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

The problem is a black eye for Hyundai as it ramps up sales of the redesigned Palisade, one of its most popular models.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Hyundai’s messaging for the redesigned Palisade family SUV starts with its insane range.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026

“We are noticing that runoff is low. There is no doubt about it,” said Luke Gingerich, a farmer who grows peaches near the river in Palisade, Colo.

From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2025

The Palisade region along the Hudson has been notable in the past for its chestnut forests.

From Northern Nut Growers Association, Report Of The Proceedings At The Tenth Annual Meeting. Battle Creek, Michigan, December 9 and 10, 1919 by Northern Nut Growers Association