ABATIS

, or Abattis, from the French abattre, to throw down, or beat down, in the Military Art, denotes a kind of retrenchment made by a quantity of whole trees cut down, and laid lengthways beside each other, the closer the better, having all their branches pointed towards the enemy, which prevents his approach, at the same time that the trunks serve as a breast-work before the men. The Abattis is a very useful work on most occasions, especially on sudden emergencies, when trees are near at hand; and has always been practised with considerable success, by the ablest commanders in all ages and nations.