contravallation

[ kon-truh-vuh-ley-shuh n ]
/ ˌkɒn trə vəˈleɪ ʃən /

noun Fortification.

a more or less continuous chain of redoubts and breastworks raised by besiegers outside the line of circumvallation of a besieged place to protect the besiegers from attacks from the outside, as by a relieving force.

Origin of contravallation

1670–80; contra-1 + vallation; compare French contrevallation, Italian contravvallazione

Example sentences from the Web for contravallation

British Dictionary definitions for contravallation

contravallation
/ (ˌkɒntrəvəˈleɪʃən) /

noun

fortifications built by besiegers around the place besieged

Word Origin for contravallation

C17: from contra- + Latin vallātiō entrenchment; compare French contrevallation