circumvallation

/ˌsɜrkəmvəˈleɪʃən/
noun
  1. A defensive wall or fortification built around a place, especially a military encampment or city.
    • Ancient cities often had a circumvallation that included towers and gates for added security.
    • The soldiers worked through the night to complete the circumvallation before dawn.
    • The army built a circumvallation of earth and stone to protect their camp from enemy attacks.
  2. The act or process of building such a defensive wall or fortification.
    • Historians study the circumvallation of ancient sites to understand military strategies of the past.
    • Circumvallation of the fortress took several weeks and required thousands of workers.
    • The general ordered the circumvallation of the entire perimeter to prevent any surprise assaults.
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