chevaux-de-frise
Noun: A defensive structure consisting of a row of fixed, sharpened stakes or a movable obstacle made of barbed wire or spikes attached to a wooden frame. Historically, it was used to obstruct the advance of cavalry and infantry.
The term is used to describe a specific type of military fortification or barrier. It is a plural noun; the singular form is cheval-de-frise. * The castle's defenders placed chevaux-de-frise around the perimeter to stop the enemy's horses. * The archaeological dig uncovered remnants of a cheval-de-frise from the 18th-century battlefield.
- Figurative Use: The term can be used metaphorically to describe any formidable barrier or array of obstacles.
- The new tax regulations created a financial cheval-de-frise for small businesses.
- Cheval-de-frise (n): The singular form of the word.
- Abatis (n): A similar defensive obstacle made of felled trees with sharpened branches pointed toward the enemy.
- Palisade (n): A fence of pointed stakes, used for defense.
- Barrier
- Obstacle
- Defense work
- Impediment
The primary and historical meaning refers to the military obstacle. Its figurative use is less common but understood in contexts describing complex, prickly, or difficult-to-navigate challenges.
- defensive structure consisting of a movable obstacle composed of barbed wire or spikes attached to a wooden frame; used to obstruct cavalry