battle line

the line along which warring troops meet.

Origin of battle line

First recorded in 1805–15

A battle-line is a rough place for a woman, and I am going to turn you out now to see if you cannot find and protect her.

Love Under Fire |Randall Parrish
He only knew that our whole regiment of reserves must be near Nanshan, so that we could join the battle-line at a moments notice.

Human Bullets |Tadayoshi Sakurai
The Confederates seemed to be fighting more stubbornly, fighting as though their battle-line was being fed with more troops.

Famous American Statesmen |Sarah Knowles Bolton
A regiment of young men marched singing down the moorland road to the battle-line.

Friends of France |Various

The British were soon standing to arms in their position along the whole twenty-five miles of the battle-line.

The Childrens' Story of the War, Volume 2 (of 10) |James Edward Parrott

battle line

the line along which troops are positioned for battle

the battle lines are drawn conflict or argument is about to occur between opposing people or groups