Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Popular Searches
Nearby Words

abatises

 - 3 dictionary results

ab⋅a⋅tis

  [ab-uh-tee, -tis, uh-bat-ee, uh-bat-is]
Use abatises in a Sentence
–noun, plural ab⋅a⋅tis  [ab-uh-teez, uh-bat-eez] , ab⋅a⋅tis⋅es  [ab-uh-tis-iz, uh-bat-uh-siz] .
1. an obstacle or barricade of trees with bent or sharpened branches directed toward an enemy.
2. a barbed wire entanglement used as an obstacle or barricade against an enemy.
Origin:
1760–70; < F; OF abateis < VL *abatteticius, deriv. of OF abattre (see abate )
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To abatises
ab·a·tis   (āb'ə-tē', -tĭs)   
n.   pl. ab·a·tis (-tēz') or ab·a·tis·es (-tĭ-sĭz)
A defensive obstacle made by laying felled trees on top of each other with branches, sometimes sharpened, facing the enemy.

[French, pile of things thrown down, from Old French abateis; akin to abattre, to throw down; see abate.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

abatis 
"defense made of felled trees," 1766, from Fr., lit. "things thrown down," from O.Fr. abateis, from abattre "to beat down, throw down" (see abate).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see abatises on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way