abatis

The story

1. French · borrowed fromabatis
2. English todayabatis

From French abatis, abattis (“mass of things beaten or cut down”), from abattre. See abate.

First known use, by meaning

• Mid 19ᵗʰ century. A means of defense formed by felled trees, or sometimes by bent trees, the ends of whose branches are sharpened and directed outwards, or against the enemy, and more recently fortified with barbed wire.