glacis

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See also: Glacis

English

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Etymology

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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

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Noun

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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

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Translations

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References

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Further reading

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Catalan

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Verb

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glacis

  1. second-person singular present subjunctive of glaçar

Ido

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Verb

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glacis

  1. past of glacar