concertina wire

American  

[kon-ser-tee-nuh wahy^uhr] / ˌkɒn sərˈti nə ˌwaɪər /

noun

1. wire with razor-sharp edges or projections, placed in coils as a barrier along the tops of fences or walls, as at a prison, or on the ground to impede advancing enemy troops.

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Etymology

Origin of concertina wire

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

North-facing slopes of the mountain were cloaked in shade, and “it was possible to see concertina wire from a great distance if one knows where to look,” Harmon wrote in a report — part of ongoing documentation of activity at the border that she started in 2020.

From Los Angeles Times

Fish and Wildlife Service about the impact of barrier construction on protected species and habitat and has “received photos from concerned citizens showing grading, clearing, habitat destruction and installation of concertina wire and new barrier wall in remote areas,” including wildlife corridors used by Peninsular bighorn, according to the official, who said the agency continues to monitor the activities.

From Los Angeles Times

Around a corner, the border came into full view — a metal turnstile with layers of concertina wire above it.

From Los Angeles Times

The concertina wire used to barricade the road has been moved to one side and local people and flocks of sheep can be seen making their way down.

From BBC

If you drive far enough down Pinehill, the trees that flank both sides of the road eventually give way to a clearing, two parking lots, a heap of concertina wire, and two small signs: one for the LaSalle ICE Processing Center, aside the logo of the Department of Homeland Security, and one for Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center, beneath the logo of GEO Group, the private prison operator that runs the facility.

From Slate