Che·val-de-frise n.; commonly used in the pl. Chevaux-de-frise. 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.
Obstructions of chain, boom, and cheval-de-frise. --W. Irving.
◄ ►
chevaux-de-frise
See cheval-de-frise
chevaux-de-frise
n : 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]
cheval-de-frise
n : defensive structure consisting of a movable obstacle
composed of barbed wire or spikes attached to a wooden
frame; used to obstruct cavalry [syn: chevaux-de-frise]
[also: chevaux-de-frise (pl)]