abatis

[ ab-uh-tee, -tis, uh-bat-ee, uh-bat-is ]

noun

, plural ab·a·tis [ab, -, uh, -teez, uh, -, bat, -eez], ab·a·tis·es [ab, -, uh, -tis-iz, uh, -, bat, -, uh, -siz].

1. an obstacle or barricade of trees with bent or sharpened branches directed toward an enemy.
2. a barbed wire entanglement used as an obstacle or barricade against an enemy.

abatis

/ ˈæbətiː; ˈæbətɪs /

noun

1. a rampart of felled trees bound together placed with their branches outwards
2. a barbed-wire entanglement before a position

Word History and Origins

Origin of abatis¹

1760–70; < French; Old French abateis < Vulgar Latin *abatteticius, derivative of Old French abattre ( abate )

Word History and Origins

Origin of abatis¹

C18: from French, from abattre to fell

Example Sentences

The defenses consisted of two lines of abatis and a line of earthworks manned by Brig.

From Washington Post

Our men worked their way through the abatis of trees, took the outer line of rifle-pits, and bivouacked within the enemy's lines.

From Project Gutenberg

On the right hand, in particular, were romantic forest scenes; a wilderness of fallen trees, which the floods and storms had thrown and piled upon each other, like an abatis.

From Project Gutenberg

Between the stretch of forest and Couch was an open; spreading across the roads, and at Casey’s front, was another open, though more limited, some abatis being arranged along their front lines.

From Project Gutenberg

They soon reached the counterscarp under a heavy and constant fire from the redoubt, and, surmounting the abatis, ditch, and palisades, mounted the parapet and leaped into the work.

From Project Gutenberg