tenaille

Definitions

noun (Fort.) An outwork in the main ditch, in front of the curtain, between two bastions. See Illust. of ravelin.

noun military, historical An outwork in the main ditch of a fortification, in front of the curtain, between two bastions.

French, a pair of pincers or tongs, a tenaille, from Latin tenaculum. See tenaculum.

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I have thought of a tenaille -- of a flat bastion.

Fort Amity Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch 1903
_Caponniers_ are works constructed to cover the passage of the ditch from the tenaille to the gorge of the demi-lune, and also from the demi-lune to the covered way, by which communication may be maintained between the enceinte and outworks.

Elements of Military Art and Science Or, Course Of Instruction In Strategy, Fortification, Tactics Of Battles, &C.; Embracing The Duties Of Staff, Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, And Engineers; Adapted To The Use Of Volunteers And Militia; Third Edition; With Critical Notes On The Mexican And Crimean Wars. Henry Wager Halleck 1843
In fact governor Stuyvesant, like the celebrated Montalembert, held bastions in absolute contempt; yet did he not like him substitute a tenaille angulaire des polygons à ailerons.

A History of New York 1809
Other fortifications in Valletta that will be recuperated and made accessible to the public as part of the project are - St Andrew's tenaille and ditch, the piazza basse and sally-ports in St Michael, St John's and St James 'bastions, and the two piazza basse in St Andrew's bastion.

timesofmalta.com 2010

chained_bear commented on the word tenaille

"TENAILLE, fr. literally shears, a military ... illegible." (citation in list description)

OED says: "A small low work, consisting of one or two re-entering angles (single or double tenaille), placed before the curtain between two bastions. tenaille of the place, the face of a fortress."
Answers.com says: An outwork in the main ditch, in front of the curtain, between two bastions.
Also a type of surgical instrument.

October 9, 2008
chained_bear commented on the word tenaille

And, four years later, I found this nifty list that I may someday cross-check with this other list: link.

July 20, 2012