[go: up one dir, main page]

See also: Glacis

English

edit

Etymology

edit
The glacis (sense 1.2.1) of a fortification is indicated in the above diagram by arrows.
The glacis of a tank (sense 1.2.2; indicated in red).

Borrowed from French glacis (slippery surface), derived from Old French glacier (to glide; freeze), the former from Latin glaciāre (to freeze), from glaciēs (ice), of uncertain origin.

Pronunciation

edit

Noun

edit

glacis (plural glacises or glacis)

  1. A gentle incline.
    1. (geomorphology) A gentle sloping landform created by the deposition or erosion of material.
    2. (military)
      1. (architecture, also figuratively) A gentle incline in front of a fortification which protects it from cannon fire and exposes attackers to more effective return fire from defenders.
        Synonym: talus
      2. In full glacis plate: the angled armour plate on the front of a tank which protects it from projectiles; also (often nautical), such a plate protecting an opening (for example, on a ship).
    3. (post) A device for sorting mail which slides parcels across a sloped surface.

Hyponyms

edit

Translations

edit

References

edit

Further reading

edit

Catalan

edit

Verb

edit

glacis

  1. second-person singular present subjunctive of glaçar

Verb

edit

glacis

  1. past of glacar