abatis
/'æbətis/
Definition
Noun: 1. A defensive obstacle: A military fortification or barrier constructed from felled trees, arranged with their sharpened branches (or branches interlaced with barbed wire) pointing outward toward the approaching enemy to impede their advance.
Usage
- The soldiers constructed an abatis across the forest road to block the enemy's path.
- The advancing troops were delayed by a formidable abatis of tangled, sharpened timber.
Advanced Usage
- "To form an abatis": To construct such a defensive barrier.
- The engineers were ordered to form an abatis along the vulnerable flank of the position.
- The term is primarily used in historical or specific military contexts to describe a type of field fortification common before the widespread use of modern explosives and machinery.
Variants and Related Words
- Abattis: An alternative, less common spelling of the same word.
- Barricade (n): A more general term for any barrier blocking a road or passage.
- Obstacle (n): A broad term for something that blocks one's way or hinders progress.
Synonyms
- Barrier
- Barricade
- Obstruction
- Impediment (in a military context)
Related Phrases/Idioms
- No common idioms or phrasal verbs incorporate this specific, technical term.
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
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa
Từ chứa "abatis"
