abatis

noun ab·a·tis \ ˈa-bə-ˌtē , ˈa-bə-təs \

Definition of abatis

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

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

Origin and Etymology of abatis

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 ³-ate + -īcius, adjective suffix — more at abate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1757

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year