abatis
Also found in: Thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
ab·a·tis
(ăb′ə-tē′, -tĭs)n. pl. ab·a·tis (-tēz′) or ab·a·tis·es (-tĭ-sĭz)
A defensive obstacle made by laying felled trees on top of each other with branches, sometimes sharpened, facing the enemy.
[French, pile of things thrown down, from Old French abateis; akin to abattre, to throw down; see abate.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
abatis
(ˈæbətɪs; ˈæbətiː) orabattis
n
1. (Fortifications) a rampart of felled trees bound together placed with their branches outwards
2. (Fortifications) a barbed-wire entanglement before a position
[C18: from French, from abattre to fell]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ab•a•tis
(ˈæb əˌti, -tɪs, əˈbæt i, əˈbæt ɪs)n., pl. ab•a•tis (ˈæb əˌtiz, əˈbæt iz)
ab•a•tis•es (ˈæb əˌtɪs ɪz, əˈbæt ə sɪz)
a defensive obstacle formed from rows of tree branches, with an end of each branch facing outward toward the enemy.
[1760–70; < French; Old French abateis < Vulgar Latin *abatteticius, derivative of Old French abattre (see abate)]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  abatis - a line of defense consisting of a barrier of felled or live trees with branches (sharpened or with barbed wire entwined) pointed toward the enemyline of defence, line of defense - defensive structure consisting of a barrier that can be employed for defense against attack |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.