Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun In fortification, the art or act of throwing up fortifications about a place, either for defense or attack; the line of works so formed.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun The act of surrounding with a wall or rampart.
- noun A line of field works made around a besieged place and the besieging army, to protect the camp of the besiegers against the attack of an enemy from without.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A
rampart or other defensiveentrenchment .
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word circumvallation.
Examples
-
The Green Mountain warrior suggested that the besiegers should be protected by what is termed circumvallation -- that is, by a line or series of works surrounding the place, not to serve offensively against the place, but to defend the siege army from an attack from without.
The Hero of Ticonderoga or Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys John De Morgan 1887
-
'circumvallation' are dim, and high authorities like Dr. Macdonald are sceptical about them.
-
But the circumvallation was straight from the siege of Capua.
-
But the circumvallation was straight from the siege of Capua.
Archive 2008-05-01 2008
-
The north side is bounded by wide muirs and inconsiderable hills, which occupy an extent of country from twelve to twenty miles in breadth, and the whole of this space is enclosed as by circumvallation.
-
While the circumvallation of Scionè was proceeding, Perdiccas, who, after what had occurred in the retreat from Lyncus, hated
The History of the Peloponnesian War Thucydides 2007
-
They also sent a detachment against the wall of circumvallation on Epipolae, supposing that it was undefended, and might be taken.
The History of the Peloponnesian War Thucydides 2007
-
Whereupon he invaded the territory of Phlius, and promptly drawing lines of circumvallation, commenced the siege.
Hellenica 2007
-
The hill had to be taken by the Athenians before they could effect the circumvallation of the place.
The History of the Peloponnesian War Thucydides 2007
-
So they immediately set about the circumvallation of Nisaea, thinking that, if they could take it before any assistance arrived, Megara itself would be more likely to capitulate.
The History of the Peloponnesian War Thucydides 2007
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.