abatis

noun

ab·​a·​tis ˈa-bə-ˌtē  ˈa-bə-təs 

plural abatis ˈa-bə-ˌtēz  or abatises ˈa-bə-tə-səz 

: a defensive obstacle formed by felled trees with sharpened branches facing the enemy

Examples of abatis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The abatises were found in front of the medieval gatehouse of Sheffield Castle, a strategic point. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, literally, "act of felling, things felled," going back to Old French abateiz, from abatre "to strike down, fell" + -eiz, -eis, resultative suffix, going back to Vulgar Latin *-ātīcium, neuter of *-ātīcius, from Latin -ātus -ate entry 3 + -īcius, adjective suffix — more at abate

First Known Use

1757, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for abatis

• hiatus
• comitatus