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