The Collaborative International Dictionary
Cheval-de-frise
Cheval-de-frise \Che*val"-de-frise"\, n.; commonly used in the pl. Chevaux-de-frise. [F.; cheval horse + Frise Friesland, where it was first used.] (Mil.) A piece of timber or an iron barrel traversed with iron-pointed spikes or spears, five or six feet long, used to defend a passage, stop a breach, or impede the advance of cavalry, etc.
Obstructions of chain, boom, and cheval-de-frise.
--W.
Irving.
WordNet
cheval-de-frise
n. defensive structure consisting of a movable obstacle composed of barbed wire or spikes attached to a wooden frame; used to obstruct cavalry [syn: chevaux-de-frise]
[also: chevaux-de-frise (pl)]