Cheval-de-frise

n.

1.

(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.

Noun

1.

cheval-de-frise - defensive structure consisting of a movable obstacle composed of barbed wire or spikes attached to a wooden frame; used to obstruct cavalry Synonyms: chevaux-de-frise

chevaux-de-frise, defence, defense, defensive structure