Abatis

Word ABATIS
Character 6
Hyphenation ab a tis
Pronunciations /ˈæb.əˌtiː/

Definitions and meanings of "Abatis"

What do we mean by abatis?

A defensive obstacle made by laying felled trees on top of each other with branches, sometimes sharpened, facing the enemy. noun

In the middle ages, an officer of the stables who had the care of measuring out the provender; an avenor. noun

In fortification, a barricade made of felled trees denuded of their smaller branches, with the butt-ends of the trunks embedded in the earth or secured by pickets, and the sharpened ends of the branches directed upward and outward toward an advancing enemy, for the purpose of obstructing his progress. noun

In coal-mining, walls of cord-wood piled up crosswise to keep the underground roads open so as to secure ventilation. noun

A means of defense formed by felled trees, the ends of whose branches are sharpened and directed outwards, or against the enemy. 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 noun

A means of defense formed by felled trees, or sometimes by bent trees, the ends of whose branches are sharpened and directed outwards, or against the enemy, and more recently fortified with barbed wire.

In the middle ages, an officer of the stables who had the care of measuring out the provender; an avenor.

In fortification, a barricade made of felled trees denuded of their smaller branches, with the butt-ends of the trunks embedded in the earth or secured by pickets, and the sharpened ends of the branches directed upward and outward toward an advancing enemy, for the purpose of obstructing his progress. In field-fortifications the abatis is usually constructed in front of the ditch. See fortification.

In coal-mining, walls of cord-wood piled up crosswise to keep the underground roads open so as to secure ventilation.

Synonyms and Antonyms for Abatis

The word "abatis" in example sentences

I mean that the Wilderness woodsmen, without orders from Clay, had converted the entire area that would have to be traversed into a natural death trap, an abatis, a French word my grandfather did not know, nor did I when I first heard it. ❋ Michener, James (1992)

Her feet, of a kind that painters call abatis, rose above the varnished leather of the shoes in a swelling that was some inches high. ❋ Unknown (2007)

High entanglements (known as abatis) may be made by felling trees toward the enemy, and similar entanglements made of brushwood are useful in emergency. ❋ Oliver Schoonmaker (N/A)

MODs lay minefields, dig AT ditches, emplace demolitions, and create other obstacles, such as abatis or log cribs to block forest roads. ❋ United States Army (1998)

"abatis" from the fallen trees, while earthworks commanding the position were soon erected. ❋ Alf Burnett (N/A)

Get engineers to build Pontoon bridges and abatis, and use sharpshooters to snipe at the enemy from a safe distance. ❋ Unknown (2008)

Nivelles highway, and there overflowed in a large pool in front of the abatis of trees which barred the way, at a spot which is still pointed out. ❋ Unknown (2008)

They cleared the ground in front of the works, lacing it with abatis. ❋ Jeffry D. Wert (2008)

Some took bark from trees to make wigwams, while others felled big trees to make an abatis of tangled branches around their camp, leaving only the riverbank open as a line of retreat. ❋ David Hackett Fischer (2008)

The attack, if it took place, would come from below; and against that Amyas guarded by felling the smaller trees, and laying them with their boughs outward over the crest of the slope, thus forming an abatis (as every one who has shot in thick cover knows to his cost) warranted to bring up in two steps, horse, dog, or man. ❋ Unknown (2007)

The abatis was four feet high and just as thick and made from two dozen thorn bushes that had been tied together and weighted down with logs, and it made a formidable obstacle and so a Forlorn Hope was proposed. ❋ Cornwell, Bernard (2003)

Dulong's surviving men cleared away the last of the thorn abatis, a dozen dead Voltigeurs were unceremoniously kicked over the roadway's edge into the ravine, and suddenly the Saltador was dark with French troops. ❋ Cornwell, Bernard (2003)

A Forlorn Hope was a company of men who were expected to die, but in doing so they would clear a path for their comrades, and usually such suicidal bands were deployed against the heavily defended breaches of enemy fortresses, but today's band must cross the narrow remnant of a bridge and die under the flail of musket fire, and as they died they were to clear away the thorn abatis. ❋ Cornwell, Bernard (2003)

Bullets smacked into the Forlorn Hope, the air was nothing but smoke and splintering noise and hissing bullets, but then Dulong managed to pitch a whole section of the abatis into the river and there was a gap wide enough to let a man through and big enough to save a trapped army, and he staggered through it, sabre raised, spitting bubbles of blood as his breath laboured. ❋ Cornwell, Bernard (2003)

The enemy rallied in the woods behind a strong abatis, and from this position Rodes determined to drive them. ❋ DOUGLAS SOUTHALL FREEMAN (2001)

The South Carolinians attacked like demons possessed, swept through the abatis, stormed two gun positions, and at nightfall held the most advanced position on the entire field. ❋ DOUGLAS SOUTHALL FREEMAN (2001)

Cross Reference for Abatis

  • Abatis cross reference not found!

What does abatis mean?

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