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Glite Dictionary
cheval-de-frise

cheval-de-frise

9.9
A frame with many long spikes used to stop horses or soldiers from getting through
  • noun
  • /ʃəˌvæl də ˈfriz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cheval-de-frise
  • The soldiers erected a cheval-de-frise to protect their position from cavalry charges.

Examples

  • During the siege, engineers placed a cheval-de-frise at the city gates to prevent enemy breaches.

  • Museum visitors can see a restored cheval-de-frise from the Revolutionary War era.

  • The army set up a cheval-de-frise to protect the camp.

  • During the battle, the soldiers used a cheval-de-frise as a defense.

  • During the siege, engineers placed a cheval-de-frise at the city gates to prevent enemy breaches.

  • The soldiers erected a cheval-de-frise to protect their position from cavalry charges.

  • Museum visitors can see a restored cheval-de-frise from the Revolutionary War era.

Synonyms

chevaux-de-frise
vscheval-de-frise
  • Archaic
9.9

A movable wooden frame with spikes that stops soldiers or horses

is general about frame material and does not specify wooden construction

How Protective

fortress
106 4.4
cheval-de-frise
  • Specialized
9.9
palisade
2 9.0
entanglement
11 6.6

Surface Forms

cheval-de-frise singular
cheval-de-frises plural

Etymology

Cheval-de-frise comes from the French parts cheval ('horse') and frise (linked to Frisia), because the spiked frame was meant to stop horses. So a cheval-de-frise is a movable frame with spikes placed to block soldiers on horseback or other attackers.