The Definition of Abatis

ab·a·tis /ˈæbəˌti, -tɪs, əˈbæti, əˈbætɪs/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ab-uh-tee, -tis, uh-bat-ee, uh-bat-is] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural ab·a·tis /ˈæbəˌtiz, əˈbætiz/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ab-uh-teez, uh-bat-eez] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation, ab·a·tis·es /ˈæbəˌtɪsɪz, əˈbætəsɪz/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ab-uh-tis-iz, uh-bat-uh-siz] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation. 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.


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[Origin: 1760–70; < F; OF abateis < VL *abatteticius, deriv. of OF abattre (see abate)]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.