concertina wire

noun

: a coiled barbed wire used as an obstacle

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Major Storrud — a high school math teacher from Marlin, Texas, when not called up by the Guard — said that what had been a mile-long barrier of concertina wire back in December had grown to more than 17 miles of wire, anti-climbing barrier and shipping containers. —J. David Goodman, New York Times, 9 May 2023

There, the Texas National Guard has installed 58 miles of chain-link fence and 42 miles of concertina wire. —Dallas News, 1 Sep. 2022

Texas National Guard troops fanned out along the Rio Grande on Tuesday to line the riverbank with concertina wire and block the path of migrants attempting to reach this city, where shelters are already overflowing and a cold snap has sent temperatures plunging. —Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post, 21 Dec. 2022

Large groups of angry migrants who tried to cross into the U.S. on the Paso del Norte bridge were met by traffic barriers, concertina wire and agents in riot gear, video of the confrontations showed. —Michelle Acevedo, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2023

There, a short stretch of concertina wire spiraled off into the tall grass, held together in places by bits of metal and cords. —J. David Goodman, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2023

Guard members used concertina wire to cordon off a gap in the border fence along a bank of the Rio Grande that became a popular crossing point for migrants who waded through shallow waters to approach immigration officials in recent days. —Dallas News, 21 Dec. 2022

Migrants cross the river and climb a few feet uphill amidst overgrown Carrizo cane and concertina wire to surrender on the farm's edge, expecting they will be released. —Acacia Coronado, Chron, 2 Sep. 2022

Hundreds of migrants initially gathered by the concertina wire put up by the guard but left after being told by U.S. officials to go to a gate to be processed in small groups. —Morgan Lee, Giovanna Dell'orto And Rebecca Santana, Chron, 21 Dec. 2022

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Word History

First Known Use

circa 1917, in the meaning defined above