Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A cylindrical bundle of sticks bound together for use in construction, as of fortresses, earthworks, sea walls, or dams.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A fagot; specifically (military), a bundle of rods or small sticks of wood bound at both ends and in the middle, used in fortification, raising batteries, filling ditches, strengthening ramparts, and making parapets.
  • noun A bundle of fagots used in oyster-culture for the spat to attach to; a stool.
  • To protect with fascines.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Fort. & Engin.) A cylindrical bundle of small sticks of wood, bound together, used in raising batteries, filling ditches, strengthening ramparts, and making parapets; also in revetments for river banks, and in mats for dams, jetties, etc.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun fortification A cylindrical bundle of small sticks of wood, bound together, used in raising batteries, filling ditches, strengthening ramparts, and making parapets; also in revetments for river banks, and in mats for dams, jetties, etc.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French, from Latin fascīna, from fascis, bundle.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From the French fascine, from the Latin fascīna ("bundle of sticks").

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Examples

  • Across the sand dunes an amphibious assault vehicle spilled a huge bundle of plastic piping called a fascine into a trench to form a temporary bridge, Within seconds Marine M-60 tanks roared past the breach and through a cleared "enemy" minefield.

    The Eve Of Destruction 2008

  • This term continues in English as "fascine", a bundle of twigs used in WW1 to cross trenches.

    On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with... 2008

  • "fascine," or bundle of fagots about a yard and a half in diameter, and controlled by a lever and chain from the interior of the tank.

    Now It Can Be Told Philip Gibbs 1919

  • The eastern point of Bogue Banks was determined to be the best location for a fort to guard the entrance to Beaufort Inlet, and in 1756 construction of a small fascine fort known as Fort Dobbs began there.

    Fort Macon de Brantigny........................ 2008

  • The eastern point of Bogue Banks was determined to be the best location for a fort to guard the entrance to Beaufort Inlet, and in 1756 construction of a small fascine fort known as Fort Dobbs began there.

    Archive 2008-06-01 de Brantigny........................ 2008

  • Our Land Forces being disembarked, erect a fascine battery-our ship is ordered, with four more, to batter the port of Bocca

    The Adventures of Roderick Random 2004

  • Our forces being landed and stationed as I have already mentioned, set about erecting a fascine battery to cannonade the principal fort of the enemy; and in something more than three weeks, it was ready to open.

    The Adventures of Roderick Random 2004

  • St. Joseph; twenty in two fascine batteries, and four men-of-war, mounting sixty-four guns each.

    The Adventures of Roderick Random 2004

  • Fort St. Joseph, the fascine batteries, and one Spanish man-of-war; the other three being burnt or sunk by the foe, that they might not fall into our hands.

    The Adventures of Roderick Random 2004

  • It had been years since he had carried a fascine to war, a great wicker cylinder that was filled with soil and provided an instant battlement to protect men and guns from enemy artillery.

    Sharpe's Gold Cornwell, Bernard, 1944- 1981

  • A fascine mattress consists of thousands of fine twigs, mainly from willow trees.

    Fascine Mattresses: Basketry Gone Wild Kris De Decker 2021

Comments

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  • Usage/description on fascines.

    October 9, 2008

  • A pocket-sized follower of Mussolini.

    October 10, 2008

  • Isn't that a fascinelle? Oh wait. That might be a pasta shape...

    October 10, 2008

  • In the silence of the night, they swam the Tigris, surprised an unguarded post of the enemy, and displayed at the dawn of day the signal of their resolution and fortune. The success of this trial disposed the emperor to listen to the promises of his architects, who propose to construct a floating bridge of the inflated skins of sheep, oxen, and goats, covered with a floor of earth and fascines.

    - Gibbon, Decline and Fall, XXIV. v.

    June 19, 2009