abatis
[ ab-uh-tee, -tis, uh-bat-ee, uh-bat-is ]
/ ˈæb əˌti, -tɪs, əˈbæt i, əˈbæt ɪs /
noun, plural ab·a·tis [ab-uh-teez, uh-bat-eez], /ˈæb əˌtiz, əˈbæt iz/, ab·a·tis·es [ab-uh-tis-iz, uh-bat-uh-siz]. /ˈæb əˌtɪs ɪz, əˈbæt ə sɪz/.
an obstacle or barricade of trees with bent or sharpened branches directed toward an enemy.
a barbed wire entanglement used as an obstacle or barricade against an enemy.
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Origin of abatis
1760–70; <French; Old French abateis<Vulgar Latin *abatteticius, derivative of Old French abattre (see abate)
Words nearby abatis
abasia, abasia-astasia, abasia trepidans, abate, abatement, abatis, abat-jour, abator, abattage, A battery, abattoir
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for abatis
British Dictionary definitions for abatis
abatis
abattis
/ (ˈæbətɪs, ˈæbətiː) /
noun fortifications
a rampart of felled trees bound together placed with their branches outwards
a barbed-wire entanglement before a position
Word Origin for abatis
C18: from French, from abattre to fell
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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