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

See Examples For:

concertina wire

Behind the concertina wire encircling the bases, Germans could experience American bowling alleys and drive-in theaters.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026

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 ● Jul. 11, 2025

May’s next film, “The Heartbreak Kid,” adapted from a Neil Simon hit and co-starring her daughter Jeannie Berlin, is a beautifully calibrated and funny social critique wrapped in concertina wire.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2024

After weeks of desperation, migrants pass a toddler under a tangle of concertina wire strung across the edge of U.S. soil.

From Seattle Times ● May 6, 2024

Beyond, coils of concertina wire topping a mesh fence further obscured the vista.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover