circle the wagons

verb

To draw a wagon train into a circle to allow the wagons to provide cover when under attack.

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Meanings

verbcircle the wagons (third-person singular simple present circles the wagons, present participle circling the wagons, simple past and past participle circled the wagons)

present singular third person circles the wagons · participle present circling the wagons · participle past circled the wagons · past circled the wagons · alternative circle one's wagons

  1. To draw a wagon train into a circle to allow the wagons to provide cover when under attack.
  2. idiomaticTo prepare to defend against an attack or criticism.

Origin

From the practice of drawing the wagons of a wagon-train into a circle to protect against attack, and also to keep cattle and other livestock within.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

circle the wagons. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/circle%20the%20wagons

MLA

“circle the wagons.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/circle%20the%20wagons. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “circle the wagons,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/circle%20the%20wagons.

Source: circle the wagons on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.