redan

American  

[ri-dan] / rɪˈdæn /

noun

Fortification.

1. a V -shaped work, usually projecting from a fortified line.

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redan British  

/ rɪˈdæn /

noun

1. a fortification of two parapets at a salient angle

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Etymology

Origin of redan

1680–90; < French, variant of redent a double notching or jagging, equivalent to re- re- + dent tooth < Latin dent- (stem of dēns )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

redan

During the night he had erected a semicircular line of works, in the form of a redan, in his rear toward the river, behind which new works he no doubt contemplated falling back.

From A Life of Gen. Robert E. Lee by John Esten Cooke

It differs from the redan only in having no ditch.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Sir Edward Belcher

Paganel, map in hand, made a loop toward the northeast, and at ten o'clock the little party reached a sort of redan, formed by a projecting rock.

From In Search of the Castaways; or the Children of Captain Grant by Jules Verne

A redan is a work with two faces making a salient angle.

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

The safety of our redan on the Heights has given me some concern, but Dennis, Williams and others report that the height is inaccessible from the river side.

From The Story of Isaac Brock Hero, Defender and Saviour of Upper Canada, 1812 by Walter R. Nursey