contravallation

== English == === Alternative forms === countervallation (archaic) === Etymology === By surface analysis, contra- +‎ vallation (“rampart”). Possibly from French contrevallation or Italian contravvallazione; in any case, from Latin contrā + vallātiō (from vallare (“to surround with a rampart”), from vallum (“rampart”)). === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌkɒntɹəvəˈleɪʃən/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˌkɑntɹəvəˈleɪʃən/ Rhymes: -eɪʃən === Noun === contravallation (plural contravallations) A fortification built around a sieged target by the besiegers. Antonym: circumvallation