had been cordoning

• past perfect progressive

  past perfect progressive

  Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.

  of cordon.
  cordon

  noun

  a line of police, sentinels, military posts, warships, etc., enclosing or guarding an area.

Related Words

• identification
• insignia
• marker
• medallion
• pin
• ribbon
• stamp
• symbol
• token