contravallation

[ kon-truh-vuh-ley-shuhn ]

nounFortification.
  1. 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

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

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British Dictionary definitions for contravallation

contravallation

/ (ˌkɒntrəvəˈleɪʃən) /


noun
  1. fortifications built by besiegers around the place besieged

Origin of contravallation

1
C17: from contra- + Latin vallātiō entrenchment; compare French contrevallation

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012