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stockade Definition

stock·ade (stä kād′)

noun

  1. a barrier of stakes driven into the ground side by side, for defense against attack
  2. ☆ an enclosure, as a fort, made with such stakes
  3. ☆ an enclosure for military prisoners

Etymology: Fr estacade (also estocade, by assoc. with OFr estoc, trunk, log < Frank *stock, akin to Ger stock: see stock) < Prov estacado < estaca, post, stake < Gmc base akin to stake

transitive verb -·ad′ed, -·ad′·ing

to surround, protect, or fortify with a stockade

stockade Synonyms

stockade

n.

barrier, protection, enclosure; see fence 1.

stockade Usage Examples

Converse of subject

  • surround: The farmstead had storage pits, drying frames and granaries, and was surrounded by a stockade.
  • protect: The bailey was protected by another wooden stockade and a deep ditch.

Converse of object

  • build: Nearby, the James White Fort still exhibits portions of the original stockade built in 1786 by Knoxville's founder.
  • defend: Go-Daigo despatched his favored general to capture the fortress of Fujishima where stalwart warrior monks were defending a wooden stockade.
  • reach: I had not gone a hundred yards when I reached the stockade.

Adjective modifier

  • wooden: View looking toward the hut, with a wooden stockade to keep out cattle in the foreground.
  • maximum: These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground.
  • old: When he returns to the old stockade, he has a surprise waiting for him.