bollard
Americannoun
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Nautical.
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a thick, low post, usually of iron or steel, mounted on a wharf or the like, to which mooring lines from vessels are attached.
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a small post to which lines are attached.
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bitt.
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British. one of a series of short posts for excluding or diverting motor vehicles from a road, lawn, or the like.
noun
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a strong wooden or metal post mounted on a wharf, quay, etc, used for securing mooring lines
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a small post or marker placed on a kerb or traffic island to make it conspicuous to motorists
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mountaineering an outcrop of rock or pillar of ice that may be used to belay a rope
Etymology
Origin of bollard
Explanation
A bollard is a short post, especially one used for mooring a boat. If you visit a working harbor, you'll see many bollards. Bollards are known for being especially sturdy, strong enough that a boat securely moored there can't be blown or tossed around. Some ships also have bollards on board, for wrapping and storing unused rope. Posts used to control automobile traffic are sometimes also called bollards. The root is thought to be the Old Norse bolr, "tree trunk."
Vocabulary lists containing bollard
Tolkien Reading Day, List 3
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The Road
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The Fellowship of the Ring
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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.
Aiello believes the bollard fence planned for the area will be just as bad as wire over time.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026
The problem in New Orleans was that the bollard system was being replaced.
From Slate ● Jan. 7, 2025
Meanwhile, a Frenchman who tried to stop the rampage by confronting the knifeman with a bollard has been promised that his visa will be renewed.
From BBC ● Apr. 16, 2024
That’s about how long it takes to remove the car’s steering wheel club, undo four tire locks and lower a yellow bollard before backing out of his driveway.
From New York Times ● Feb. 24, 2024
My own black ship I chose to moor alone on the sea side, using a rock for bollard; and climbed a rocky point to get my bearings.
From "The Odyssey" by Homer
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.
