hedge defense
Definition
- Noun (Military):
- Hedge defense refers to a specific military defensive tactic or formation characterized by a compact, circular, or hedgehog-like arrangement of forces, designed to protect against attacks from multiple directions. The term evokes the image of a hedgehog curling into a ball with its spines outward, providing all-around protection.
Usage Examples
- (The soldiers formed a compact defensive perimeter, facing outward in all directions.)
- (The circular defensive formation prevented the enemy from exploiting weaknesses on the sides.)
Advanced Usage
- "to establish a hedge defense": to set up a defensive position that is self-contained and resilient against attacks from any side.
- The unit established a hedge defense around the supply depot, ensuring no approach was left unguarded. (They created a strong, all-around defensive line.)
Variants and Related Words
- Hedgehog defense (n): an alternative term for the same concept, often used in military history to describe a defensive tactic where forces are concentrated in a small area with strong points facing all directions.
- The hedgehog defense was famously used by German forces in World War II. (A compact, fortified defensive position.)
Synonyms
- All-around defense: a defensive arrangement that covers all directions equally.
- Perimeter defense: a defensive line that encircles a position.
Related Idioms
- "to curl up like a hedgehog": to adopt a defensive posture that protects all vulnerable points.
- In the face of overwhelming odds, the soldiers curled up like a hedgehog, ready for a last stand. (They assumed a compact, all-round defensive formation.)
Notes
- This term is primarily used in military contexts and may not be common in everyday language. It is distinct from the financial term "hedge" (a risk management strategy) or the literal "hedge" (a row of shrubs).