palisade
1 of 2noun
pal·i·sade ˌpa-lə-ˈsād 
1
a
: a fence of stakes especially for defense
b
: a long strong stake pointed at the top and set close with others as a defense
2
: a line of bold cliffs
palisade
2 of 2verb
palisaded; palisading
transitive verb
: to fortify with palisades
Did you know?
Palisade comes from Latin palus, meaning "stake." The word originally applied to one of a series of stakes set in a row to form an enclosure or fortification. In time, its meaning was extended to a fence of stakes and, by association, to stretches of steep cliffs bordering a river.
Synonyms
Noun
- barranca
- barranco
- bluff
- cliff
- crag
- escarpment
- precipice
- scar
- scarp
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun the palisades that line the west bank of the Hudson River for about 15 miles
Recent Examples on the Web
Hartford Courant, 19 May 2022 Foreman said there’s not a more appropriate boundary for the Alamo to interpret than the palisade, which links the mission era to both sides of the war between Texas and Mexico. Scott Huddleston, San Antonio Express-News, 30 Dec. 2021 That’s why Travis assigned Crockett to the palisade, Foreman said. Scott Huddleston, San Antonio Express-News, 30 Dec. 2021 According to Davis, Alamo commander William Barret Travis may have stationed Crockett and other Tennessee volunteers at the palisade. Scott Huddleston, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Dec. 2021 It was surrounded by a palisade of wooden posts that eventually decayed, leading the mound to collapse. Isis Davis-marks, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Aug. 2021 Somewhere, out there, beyond the immediate palisade, the fighting continues. Alan Cowell, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Mar. 2021 Somewhere, out there, beyond the immediate palisade, the fighting continues. Alan Cowell, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Mar. 2021 Somewhere, out there, beyond the immediate palisade, the fighting continues. Alan Cowell, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Mar. 2021 See More
Noun
Also discovered during excavation was physical evidence of a palisade, or defensive wall. Hartford Courant, 19 May 2022 Foreman said there’s not a more appropriate boundary for the Alamo to interpret than the palisade, which links the mission era to both sides of the war between Texas and Mexico. Scott Huddleston, San Antonio Express-News, 30 Dec. 2021 That’s why Travis assigned Crockett to the palisade, Foreman said. Scott Huddleston, San Antonio Express-News, 30 Dec. 2021 According to Davis, Alamo commander William Barret Travis may have stationed Crockett and other Tennessee volunteers at the palisade. Scott Huddleston, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Dec. 2021 It was surrounded by a palisade of wooden posts that eventually decayed, leading the mound to collapse. Isis Davis-marks, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Aug. 2021 Somewhere, out there, beyond the immediate palisade, the fighting continues. Alan Cowell, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Mar. 2021 Somewhere, out there, beyond the immediate palisade, the fighting continues. Alan Cowell, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Mar. 2021 Somewhere, out there, beyond the immediate palisade, the fighting continues. Alan Cowell, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Mar. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
French palissade, ultimately from Latin palus stake — more at pole
First Known Use
Noun
1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1632, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing palisade
Kids Definition
palisade
noun
pal·i·sade ˌpa-lə-ˈsād
1
: a fence made of poles to protect against attack
2
: a line of steep cliffs
palisades 1 of 2
noun
as in cliffs
a steep wall of rock, earth, or ice the palisades that line the west bank of the Hudson River for about 15 miles Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- cliffs
- escarpments
- bluffs
- crags
- precipices
- barrancas
- scarps
- scars
- embankments
- buttes
- hogbacks
- tors
- declivities
- barrancos
- cuestas
- bulwarks
- pitches
- drop-offs
palisades
2 of 2verb
as in walls
Synonyms & Similar Words
- walls
- pickets
- buffers
- preserves
- wars
- fences
- bulwarks
- battles
- guards
- conserves
- shields
- contends
- fights
- wards
- safeguards
- resists
- opposes
- saves
- withstands
- prevents
- protects
- defends
- screens
- fends
- forfends
- averts
- secures
- covers
- keeps
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- attacks
- assails
- storms
- bombards
- overruns
- assaults
- caves
- besieges
- submits
- yields
- capitulates
- besets