n. & v.
n. 1 a line or circle of police, soldiers, guards, etc., esp. preventing access to or from an area. 2 a an ornamental cord or braid. b the ribbon of a knightly order. 3 a fruit-tree trained to grow as a single stem. 4 Archit. a string-course.
v.tr. (often foll. by off) enclose or separate with a cordon of police etc.
[ It. cordone augmentative of corda CORD, & F cordon (as CORD) ]