palisade

[ pal-uh-seyd ]

noun

1. a fence of pales or stakes set firmly in the ground, as for enclosure or defense.
2. any of a number of pales or stakes pointed at the top and set firmly in the ground in a close row with others to form a defense.
3. Botany. palisade parenchyma.
4. palisades, a line of cliffs.

verb (used with object)

, pal·i·sad·ed, pal·i·sad·ing.

1. to furnish or fortify with a palisade.

palisade

/ ˌpælɪˈseɪd /

noun

1. a strong fence made of stakes driven into the ground, esp for defence
2. one of the stakes used in such a fence
3. botany a layer of elongated mesophyll cells containing many chloroplasts, situated below the outer epidermis of a leaf blade

verb

1. tr to enclose with a palisade

Other Words From

• unpal·i·saded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of palisade¹

1590–1600; < French palissade < Old Provençal palissada, equivalent to paliss ( a ) paling (derivative of pal stake, pale ² ) + -ada -ade ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of palisade¹

C17: via French, from Old Provençal palissada, ultimately from Latin pālus stake; see pale ², pole ¹

Example Sentences

With room inside for dozens of people and dwellings sunk almost 2 meters deep for warmth in Siberian winters, the fortresses were ringed by earthen walls several meters high and topped with wooden palisades.

From Science Magazine

Buckingham Palace was taken aback, and it responded with a terse, 61-word statement that sought to contain the drama within the familiar royal palisade of privacy.

From New York Times

“You see how friendly they are. If we build a palisade it will look as if we are their enemies. We will build no fortification.”

From Literature

The noodle house may be hard to find because it’s literally overshadowed by the palisades of the Great Wall Shopping Mall nearby.

From Seattle Times

Other than the shell of a reconstructed barracks and the palisades outlining the fort, there were no other attempts at verisimilitude.

From Washington Post