Crossword clues for abatis
abatis
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Abatis \Ab"a*tis\, Abattis \Aba"t*tis\, ([a^]b"[.a]*t[i^]s; French [.a]`b[.a]`t[=e]") n. [F. abatis, abattis, mass of things beaten or cut down, fr. abattre. See Abate.] (Fort.) A means of defense formed by felled trees, the ends of whose branches are sharpened and directed outwards, or against the enemy.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"defense made of felled trees," 1766, from French abatis, literally "things thrown down," from Old French abateis, from abattre "to beat down, throw down" (see abate).
Wiktionary
n. 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. (Mid 19th century.)(R:SOED5: page=2)
WordNet
n : line of defense consisting of a barrier of felled or live trees with branches (sharpened or with barbed wire entwined) toward the enemy [syn: abattis]
Wikipedia
An abatis, abattis, or abbattis is a field fortification consisting of an obstacle formed (in the modern era) of the branches of trees laid in a row, with the sharpened tops directed outwards, towards the enemy. The trees are usually interlaced or tied with wire. Abatis are used alone or in combination with wire entanglements and other obstacles.
Usage examples of "abatis".
North Carolinians made a new abatis in front of the railbed, where neither the cutting nor its adjacent embankment offered a real obstacle to the Yankee attackers.
The tops were denuded of leaves and small twigs by walking wounded and the tip of each and every remaining branch was given a sharp pointdumped in embankments or lashed together, these would make quite an effective abatis.
Tangent, Bonesteel, Dunstan and the remainder of the men of Freegate stood patiently behind their abatis and piles of stones.
Some of the panic-stricken soldiers were still trying to hack their way through the abatis but most were attempting to retreat back up the pass, pushing at those blocking them and trampling those beneath, adding to the crushing pressure on the infantry facing Springbuck and Hightower.
Long lines of earthworks were being constructed, gangs of negros were felling trees, building forts and batteries, making abatis, and toiling with numbers of huge guns which were being moved out and placed in position.
When they at last halted and recommenced their nights of shafts, those loosed by the defenders at the men laboring on the abatis slackened perceptibly.
The gap between them was crudely but thickly barricaded with an abatis of untrimmed pine trees.
The pine abatis was a bauble, no more of an obstacle than a sheep hurdle.
The ammunition left in the pouch of the corpse who had fallen into the burning abatis began to explode.
New abatis were built and the stone wall was strengthened yet further.
Between these stretch unclimbable escarpments, stone walls, and other breastworks, and in front of all a double row of abatis, formed of the limbs of trees.
Trees were hewn down, and a fort made after the Iroquois fashion, by encircling the camp with a high and dense abatis of trunks and branches.
As for Maltby's militiasdefending abatises or a stockade, they might be nearly as good as armsmen.
Sounded terrible, even from a ways off, and chewed up the forest pretty badly, but didn't really harm the abatises that much.
Algis directed him to the work crews felling abatises, but he insists on Noble Hospitality.