Definition

Noun: A trou-de-loup is a defensive pit or hole dug in the ground as a military obstacle. It is typically conical or pyramidal in shape, with a sharpened stake fixed upright at the bottom. The pit is designed to trap and injure enemy personnel and animals.

Usage

The term is used in historical and military contexts to describe a specific type of trap or fortification. * The ancient fort's perimeter was protected by a line of trous-de-loup. * Archaeologists discovered remnants of trous-de-loup near the battlefield.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in its plural form, trous-de-loup.
• It can be used metaphorically to describe a hidden danger or trap in a non-military context, though this is rare.
  • The complex legal contract was full of trous-de-loup for the unwary.

Variants and Related Words

• Wolf hole: An English translation of the French term "trou-de-loup."
• Punji stick pit: A similar concept from later historical periods, particularly associated with Southeast Asia.

Synonyms

• Pitfall
• Trap pit
• Defensive pit

Notes on Meaning

The primary and almost exclusive meaning refers to the historical military obstacle. Its literal French translation is "wolf hole," suggesting its function is to trap like a wolf trap.

Noun

1. a sloping pit with a stake in the middle used as an obstacle to the enemy