abatis

noun

ab·a·tis | \ˈa-bə-ˌtē,

ˈa-bə-təs

\

plural abatis\ˈa-bə-ˌtēz

\ or abatises\ˈa-bə-tə-səz

\

Definition of abatis

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

History and Etymology for 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 -ate entry 3 + -īcius, adjective suffix — more at abate

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The first known use of abatis was in 1757

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