chevaux-de-frise

2 definitions found

chevaux-de-frise - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Cheval-de-frise \Che*val"-de-frise"\, n.; commonly used in the
     pl. Chevaux-de-frise. [F.; cheval horse + Frise Friesland,
     where it was first used.] (Mil.)
     A piece of timber or an iron barrel traversed with
     iron-pointed spikes or spears, five or six feet long, used to
     defend a passage, stop a breach, or impede the advance of
     cavalry, etc.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Obstructions of chain, boom, and cheval-de-frise. --W.
                                                    Irving.
     [1913 Webster]

chevaux-de-frise - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  chevaux-de-frise
      n 1: defensive structure consisting of a movable obstacle
           composed of barbed wire or spikes attached to a wooden
           frame; used to obstruct cavalry [syn: cheval-de-frise,
           chevaux-de-frise]