circumvallation

American  

[ser-kuhm-va-lay-shuhn] / ˌsər kəm væˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

• circumvallations
  plural

1. the act or process of surrounding a position with a fortification, or circumvallating.

2. a fortification, especially one made of earth, surrounding an area for protection; rampart.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• circumvallations
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

circumvallation circumvallations

Vespasian advanced against the city with his whole army, and drew a line of circumvallation around it, and then commenced the attack.

From Ancient States and Empires by Lord, John

The circumvallation was a line of parapet which the besieger made outside the investing position of his own force, to protect it when there was a chance of attack by a relieving army.

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

On the surrender of the town, no time was lost in prosecuting operations against the citadel, and the line of circumvallation was traced out that very evening.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 369, July 1846 by Various

They drew around it a double line of circumvallation, the inner one to prevent egress from the city, the outer one to defend themselves against external attacks.

From Ancient States and Empires by Lord, John

The Franc-Taupin and his aide, who until that instant lay flat upon their faces behind a heap of debris, suddenly rose and ran towards the circumvallation as fast as their legs could carry them.

From The Pocket Bible or Christian the Printer A Tale of the Sixteenth Century by Sue, Eug?ne

These singular circumvallations sometimes enclosed a hundred and fifty acres of ground.

From Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804 — Volume 2 by Humboldt, Alexander von

We have his works, but they are like the circumvallations of a Roman camp on the Scottish hillside.

From Dreamthorp A Book of Essays Written in the Country by Smith, Alexander

The foot of the hill was enclosed by a palisade and a moat; these circumvallations frequently rendered successful assault impossible, and the only recourse open to the attacking force was a protracted siege.

From Women of England by James, Bartlett Burleigh

Pretty Prudence, like a beleaguered city hard bested, kept the enemy Spikeman at bay; nor did he, with all his parallels and circumvallations, make any progress.

From The Knight of the Golden Melice A Historical Romance by Adams, John Turvill

The ancient Americans knew how to protect every height and every delta formed by the junction of two rivers with redoubts, walls, parapets, fosses, and circumvallations.

From Manners and Monuments of Prehistoric Peoples by D'Anvers, N.