cattle guard
Definition
Noun: A cattle guard is a structure installed across a road or entrance, consisting of a grid of parallel metal bars or pipes spaced apart. It is designed to create a barrier that livestock, such as cattle or sheep, are unwilling or unable to walk across, while allowing vehicles and pedestrians to pass over it freely. It functions as a gate-free barrier to contain animals within a defined area.
Usage
A cattle guard is used in rural and agricultural settings, typically at property boundaries, fence lines, or where a road crosses a grazing area. Its purpose is to allow the uninterrupted flow of traffic without the need for people to stop and open or close a gate.
Examples
- The rancher installed a cattle guard at the entrance to the pasture so he wouldn't have to get out of his truck to open the gate.
- Please drive slowly over the cattle guard; the bumps can be rough on your vehicle's suspension.
- The effectiveness of a cattle guard relies on the animals' instinctive fear of the unstable footing the gaps create.
Advanced Usage
- "To be cattle guard-proof": (Informal) Used to describe an animal that is not deterred by a standard cattle guard, often because it has learned to walk across it or jump over it.
- That old bull is practically cattle guard-proof; we'll need to install a proper gate.
Variants and Related Words
- Cattle grid (noun): A common synonym, especially in British English.
- Texas gate (noun): A regional term used primarily in Canada and the northwestern United States.
- Vehicle pass (noun): A more general term.
Synonyms
- Cattle grid
- Texas gate (regional)
- Stock grid
Antonyms
- Gate
- Fence opening
Related Phrases/Concepts
- "The principle of the cattle guard": Refers to the concept of creating a psychological or physical barrier through perceived risk or discomfort, rather than a solid wall. This concept is sometimes used metaphorically in design or security.
- The software uses a verification step as a cattle guard against accidental data deletion.
Noun
-
a bridge over a ditch consisting of parallel metal bars that allow pedestrians and vehicles to pass, but not cattle
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