ABATIS

abattis, abatis

(noun) a line of defense consisting of a barrier of felled or live trees with branches (sharpened or with barbed wire entwined) pointed toward the enemy

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

abatis (plural abatis or abatises)

A means of defense formed by felled trees, or sometimes by bent trees, the ends of whose branches are sharpened and directed outwards, or against the enemy, and more recently fortified with barbed wire. [Mid 19th century.]

In the middle ages, an officer of the stables who had the care of measuring out the provender; an avenor.

In fortification, a barricade made of felled trees denuded of their smaller branches, with the butt-ends of the trunks embedded in the earth or secured by pickets, and the sharpened ends of the branches directed upward and outward toward an advancing enemy, for the purpose of obstructing his progress. In field-fortifications the abatis is usually constructed in front of the ditch. See fortification.

In coal-mining, walls of cord-wood piled up crosswise to keep the underground roads open so as to secure ventilation.

Anagrams

• Bastia, tabias

Source: Wiktionary


Ab"a*tis, Aba"t*tis, n. Etym: [F. abatis, abattis, mass of things beaten or cut down, fr. abattre. See Abate.] (Fort.)

Definition: A means of defense formed by felled trees, the ends of whose branches are sharpened and directed outwards, or against the enemy.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

29 March 2024

FAULTFINDING

(adjective) tending to make moral judgments or judgments based on personal opinions; “a counselor tries not to be faultfinding”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

There are four varieties of commercially viable coffee: Arabica, Liberica, Excelsa, and Robusta. Growers predominantly plant the Arabica species. Although less popular, Robusta tastes slightly more bitter and contains more caffeine.

coffee icon