cordon

[ kawr-dn ]

noun

1. a line of police, sentinels, military posts, warships, etc., enclosing or guarding an area.
2. a cord or braid worn for ornament or as a fastening.
3. a ribbon worn usually diagonally across the breast as a badge of a knightly or honorary order.
4. Fortification.
   1. a projecting course of stones at the base of a parapet.
   2. the coping of a scarp.
5. Architecture.
   1. a stringcourse, especially one having little or no projection.
   2. a cut-stone riser on a stepped ramp or the like.
6. a fruit tree or shrub trained to grow along a support or a series of such supports.

verb (used with object)

1. to surround or blockade with or as with a cordon (usually followed by off ):

   The police cordoned off the street.

cordon

/ ˈkɔːdən /

noun

1. a chain of police, soldiers, ships, etc, stationed around an area
2. a ribbon worn as insignia of honour or rank
3. a cord or ribbon worn as an ornament or fastening
4. Also calledstring coursebelt coursetable architect an ornamental projecting band or continuous moulding along a wall
5. horticulture a form of fruit tree consisting of a single stem bearing fruiting spurs, produced by cutting back all lateral branches

verb

1. troften foll byoff to put or form a cordon (around); close (off)

Word History and Origins

Origin of cordon¹

1400–50; Middle English < Middle French, diminutive of corde

Word History and Origins

Origin of cordon¹

C16: from Old French, literally: a little cord, from corde string, cord

Example Sentences

Police added the large cordon encompassing several nearby streets remained in place after the blaze was extinguished due to ongoing safety concerns, but this would be continually reviewed and adapted by experts.

From BBC

A cordon covering Frogmore Street, Regent Street, Princes Street and Baker Street is expected to remain in place for some time.

From BBC

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said because of the risk posed by the fireworks a cordon was put in place but removed once the fire burned out.

From BBC

BBC CWR reporter Adele Wilkinson, who was at the scene, said the street looked fairly normal apart from the police cordon which had closed the road.

From BBC

Officers set up a cordon covering a large area of the street in the aftermath.

From BBC

Related Words

• identification
• insignia
• marker
• medallion
• pin
• ribbon
• stamp
• symbol
• token