abatis

[ ab-uh-tee, -tis, uh-bat-ee, uh-bat-is ]

/ ˈæb əˌti, -tɪs, əˈbæt i, əˈbæt ɪs /

an obstacle or barricade of trees with bent or sharpened branches directed toward an enemy.

a barbed wire entanglement used as an obstacle or barricade against an enemy.

Origin of abatis

1760–70; < French; Old French abateis < Vulgar Latin *abatteticius, derivative of Old French abattre (see abate)

They reached the abatis and one man leaped on the breastworks before they fell back in bloody confusion.

The Southerner |Thomas Dixon
The fire was successful, though some few miraculously cleared the abatis.

The Life of a Regimental Officer |A. F. Mockler-Ferryman
Between these pits and the Fort were wire entanglements, running from stump to stump, and also an abatis.

The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 18, No. 105, July 1866 |Various
The limbs had been trimmed and pointed, and thus formed an abatis in front of the greater part of the line.

Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, Complete |Ulysses S. Grant

They went over carefully that part of the works they had crossed, and the abatis in front, but could find no trace of him.

Si Klegg, Book 6 (of 6) |John McElroy

abatis

/ (ˈæbətɪs, ˈæbətiː) /

a rampart of felled trees bound together placed with their branches outwards

a barbed-wire entanglement before a position

C18: from French, from abattre to fell