cheval-de-frise

noun

che·​val-de-frise shə-ˌval-də-ˈfrēz 

plural chevaux-de-frise shə-ˌvō-də-ˈfrēz 

1

: a defense consisting typically of a timber or an iron barrel covered with projecting spikes and often strung with barbed wire

2

: a protecting line (as of spikes) on top of a wall

—usually used in plural

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, horse from Friesland

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1