concertina wire

American  

[kon-ser-tee-nuh wahy^uhr] / ˌkɒn sərˈti nə ˌwaɪər /

noun

1. wire with razor-sharp edges or projections, placed in coils as a barrier along the tops of fences or walls, as at a prison, or on the ground to impede advancing enemy troops.

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Etymology

Origin of concertina wire

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Starting last fall, federal forces began stringing hundreds of miles of concertina wire along the border.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

Behind the concertina wire encircling the bases, Germans could experience American bowling alleys and drive-in theaters.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

The concertina wire used to barricade the road has been moved to one side and local people and flocks of sheep can be seen making their way down.

From BBC • Jul. 11, 2025

The outsiders drove their pickup trucks slowly by the gate of the park, peering out their windows, looking past the concertina wire and National Guardsmen and state troopers for drama.

From Slate • Jan. 31, 2024

They see sunlight one hour a day, when they are allowed into an outdoor area surrounded by a fence topped with concertina wire.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario