contravallation
a more or less continuous chain of redoubts and breastworks raised by besiegers outside the line of circumvallation of a besieged place to protect the besiegers from attacks from the outside, as by a relieving force.
Origin of contravallation
1Words Nearby contravallation
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use contravallation in a sentence
On the 20th I continued working on the lines of contravallation, under a dreadful fire from the place.
Around the great tête de pont, he contented himself with raising a contravallation, which cut off the two roads.
Annals of a Fortress | E. Viollet-le-DucBefore help arrived, Anseric had had time to kill or put to flight all who were guarding the contravallation.
Annals of a Fortress | E. Viollet-le-DucThe old system of intrenched camps and lines of contravallation is unsuited to the spirit of modern warfare.
Elements of Military Art and Science | Henry Wager HalleckThe other covered the siege, and secured himself from the allies by lines of contravallation.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.II. | Tobias Smollett
British Dictionary definitions for contravallation
/ (ˌkɒntrəvəˈleɪʃən) /
fortifications built by besiegers around the place besieged
Origin of contravallation
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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