abatis
Americannoun
-
abatis,
plural
-
abatises
plural
-
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.
noun
-
a rampart of felled trees bound together placed with their branches outwards
-
a barbed-wire entanglement before a position
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of abatis
1760–70; < French; Old French abateis < Vulgar Latin *abatteticius, derivative of Old French abattre ( see abate)
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.
The defenses consisted of two lines of abatis and a line of earthworks manned by Brig.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 17, 2021
The works were strengthened and surrounded by an abatis.
From Vermont A Study of Independence by Rowland E. (Evans) Robinson
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
While thus posted, Washington was incessantly occupied in fortifying the approaches to his camp by redoubts, abatis, and deep intrenchments.
From The Student's Life of Washington; Condensed from the Larger Work of Washington Irving For Young Persons and for the Use of Schools by Washington Irving
They took post behind an abatis at a place called La Belle Famille, and the Five Nation warriors placed themselves on their flanks.
From Historic Handbook of the Northern Tour by Francis Parkman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
