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contravallation

[ kon-truh-vuh-ley-shuhn ]

noun

, Fortification.
  1. a more or less continuous chain of redoubts and breastworks raised by besiegers outside the line of circumvallation of a besieged place to protect the besiegers from attacks from the outside, as by a relieving force.


contravallation

/ ˌkɒntrəvəˈleɪʃən /

noun

  1. fortifications built by besiegers around the place besieged
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of contravallation1

1670–80; contra- 1( def ) + vallation; compare French contrevallation, Italian contravvallazione
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Word History and Origins

Origin of contravallation1

C17: from contra- + Latin vallātiō entrenchment; compare French contrevallation
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Example Sentences

On the 20th I continued working on the lines of contravallation, under a dreadful fire from the place.

Around the great tête de pont, he contented himself with raising a contravallation, which cut off the two roads.

Before help arrived, Anseric had had time to kill or put to flight all who were guarding the contravallation.

The old system of intrenched camps and lines of contravallation is unsuited to the spirit of modern warfare.

The other covered the siege, and secured himself from the allies by lines of contravallation.

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contratecontravene