abatis

American  

[ab-uh-tee, -tis, uh-bat-ee, uh-bat-is] / ˈæb əˌti, -tɪs, əˈbæt i, əˈbæt ɪs /

noun

• abatis,
  plural
• abatises
  plural

1. an obstacle or barricade of trees with bent or sharpened branches directed toward an enemy.

2. a barbed wire entanglement used as an obstacle or barricade against an enemy.

---

abatis British  

/ ˈæbətiː, ˈæbətɪs /

noun

1. a rampart of felled trees bound together placed with their branches outwards

2. a barbed-wire entanglement before a position

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• abatis
  plural
• abatises
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of abatis

1760–70; < French; Old French abateis < Vulgar Latin *abatteticius, derivative of Old French abattre ( see abate)

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

abatis

The defenses consisted of two lines of abatis and a line of earthworks manned by Brig.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 17, 2021

An abatis should be protected from artillery fire, which is sometimes done by placing it in a shallow excavation with the earth thrown up in front of it.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 6 "Foraminifera" to "Fox, Edward" by Various

Following up the blow, they forced them to fly, in great confusion, over the abatis, and into the swamp.

From Some Account of the Public Life of the Late Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Bart. Particularly of his Services in the Canadas, including a reply to the strictures on his Military Character, Contained in an Article in The Quareterly Review by E. B. Brenton

The narrow slanting path on the face of the heights had been made impassable by trenches and abatis; but all obstructions were soon cleared away, and then the ascent was easy.

From Historic Handbook of the Northern Tour by Francis Parkman

"The impetuosity of the attack carried all before it, and within nine minutes from the time the abatis was passed the work was gained."

From Homes of American Statesmen With Anecdotical, Personal, and Descriptive Sketches by Various

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---