abatis

noun

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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