cheval-de-frise

American  

[shuh-val-duh-freez] / ʃəˈvæl dəˈfriz /

noun

• chevaux-de-frise
  plural

1. a portable obstacle, usually a sawhorse, covered with projecting spikes or barbed wire, for military use in closing a passage, breaking in a defensive wall, etc.

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cheval-de-frise British  

/ ʃəˌvældəˈfriːz /

noun

1. a portable barrier of spikes, sword blades, etc, used to obstruct the passage of cavalry

2. a row of spikes or broken glass set as an obstacle on top of a wall

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• chevaux-de-frise
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cheval-de-frise

1680–90; < French; literally, horse of Friesland, so called because first used by Frisians

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cheval-de-frise chevaux-de-frise

A cheval-de-frise consists of a horizontal piece of timber armed with wooden or iron lances, which project some eight or ten feet.

From Elements of Military Art and Science Or, Course Of Instruction In Strategy, Fortification, Tactics Of Battles, &C.; Embracing The Duties Of Staff, Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, And Engineers; Adapted To The Use Of Volunteers And Militia; Third Edition; With Critical Notes On The Mexican And Crimean Wars. by Henry Wager Halleck

There is a low wall there, and a cheval-de-frise on the top of it.

From With Frederick the Great A Story of the Seven Years' War by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty

At South-west Harbor the visitor is usually desirous of inspecting the sea-wall, or cheval-de-frise of shattered rock, that skirts the shore less than three miles distant from the steamboat landing.

From Nooks and Corners of the New England Coast by Samuel Adams Drake

A high wall inclosed it, and on the top of this wall ran a miniature cheval-de-frise of iron.

From The Grey Cloak by Thomas Mitchell Peirce

When, however, the latter reached the great cheval-de-frise, formed by felled trees, in front of the intrenchments, they could make no further progress, so heavy was the fire maintained by the enemy.

From Won By the Sword : a tale of the Thirty Years' War by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty

In moving into position the place was found to be well protected by a heavy abatis and chevaux-de-frise, from point to point, above and below the fortress.

From Uncle Daniel's Story Of "Tom" Anderson And Twenty Great Battles by John McElroy

With this I could have brought her up on open ground, but we were running up a narrow lane, and on each side was a treble row of magueys, forming a most fearful-looking chevaux-de-frise!

From The Guerilla Chief And other Tales by Mayne Reid

Such a chevaux-de-frise would defend a trench against the most courageous regiment.

From Jungle Peace by William Beebe

Then he made a rough circular wall around the camp enclosure, using rails and sleepers and a number of trucks, defending the whole circuit with a chevaux-de-frise made of branches lopped from the neighbouring woods.

From Swift and Sure by Herbert Strang

Double rows of iron hurdles, surmounted by chevaux-de-frise, have been placed by these magnanimous dignitaries across the aisles of the Cathedral.

From Punch - Volume 25 (Jul-Dec 1853) by Various