palisade

noun pal·i·sade \ ˌpa-lə-ˈsād \

Definition of palisade

1 a : a fence of stakes especially for defense

b : a long strong stake pointed at the top and set close with others as a defense

2 : a line of bold cliffs

See palisade defined for English-language learners

See palisade defined for kids

palisade was our Word of the Day on 08/15/2012. Hear the podcast!

Examples of palisade in a Sentence

the palisades that line the west bank of the Hudson River for about 15 miles

Recent Examples of palisade from the Web

Pauger's plans called for the city to be fortified with palisades on all sides.

— mike scott, NOLA.com, "Meet the man who put the French Quarter on the map (literally)," 14 Dec. 2017
The palisade fabric is similarly unconvincing, Bosak says, because such rock crystal formations could form from non-biological causes, such as after an asteroid impact.

— ben panko, Smithsonian, "Fossils From Ancient Hot Springs Suggest Life May Have Evolved on Land," 11 May 2017
The first castles were merely earthen heaps surrounded by a wooden palisade wall.

— william gurstelle, Popular Mechanics, "How to Storm a Castle," 10 Aug. 2017
In fact, hardly anything was built until the 1729 Natchez Indian uprising, after which authorities erected a palisade and dug a shallow moat.

— richard campanella, NOLA.com, "New Orleans 'Fort-prints': Odd angled properties are relics of city's fortified past," 10 May 2017
So, Jones says at this point, he is forced to conclude that the palisades have completely deteriorated beyond recovery.

— jennifer coe, Courant Community, "Archaeological Discoveries Discussed," 18 May 2017
This vertical, rippling, palisade texture forms when long filaments from microbial mats that exist at the outflows of hot springs get entombed in silica sediment that is common in the water.

— Fox News, "Scientists may have discovered the oldest evidence of life on land," 11 May 2017
Forts Borgona (Burgundy), San Fernando, and San Juan, which guarded the rear of the city, comprised earthen berms fortified with pickets and timber palisades and mounted with guns, fronted by a 30-foot-wide moat with four-foot-deep water.

— richard campanella, NOLA.com, "New Orleans 'Fort-prints': Odd angled properties are relics of city's fortified past," 10 May 2017
Palisades (19-6) is 2-2 against Orange County opponents this year.

— kenny connolly, Orange County Register, "Girls basketball notes: Fairmont Prep strengthens case for Open Division spot," 30 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'palisade.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of palisade

French palissade, ultimately from Latin palus stake — more at pole

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1588

See Words from the same year

palisade Synonyms

Synonyms

bluff, cliff, crag, escarpment, precipice, scar, scarp;

Related Words

butte, hogback, tor;

bulwark, embankment;

declivity, drop-off, pitch;

palisade

verb

Definition of palisade

palisaded; palisading

transitive verb

: to fortify with palisades

First Known Use of palisade

1632

PALISADE Defined for English Language Learners

palisade

noun

Definition of palisade for English Language Learners

: a high fence made of pointed stakes that was used in the past to protect a building or area
palisades : a line of steep cliffs especially along a river or ocean