I. ˈkȯrd ə n, -ȯ(ə)d-, -ˌdän; in senses 2a-c usually -d ə n noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French, diminutive of corde string, rope — more at cord
1.
a. : an ornamental cord, braid, lace, or string used especially on costumes: as
(1) : an ornamental cord encircling a heraldic shield especially of an ecclesiastical dignitary
(2) : a cord or ribbon worn as a badge of honor or as a decoration of an order of knighthood — see grand cordon
b. : stringcourse
2.
a. : a line or series of troops or of military posts placed at intervals and enclosing an area to prevent passage
b. : a barrier of any kind operating to close off, restrict, or control access or communication
a traffic cordon around the business center of a city
protected from the mainland by a cordon of seven hills — Horace Sutton
c. : a line or circle of persons or objects around any person or place
a cordon of police kept back the crowd
a cordon of ramshackle market stalls was thrown around the circular facade to accommodate the provision merchants — Lewis Mumford
d. : cordon sanitaire
3. : an espalier trained to a single horizontal shoot or to two opposed shoots so as to form one line
II. -d ə n, -ˌdän; in sense 2 usually -d ə n transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle French cordonner, from cordon, n.
1. : to ornament with a cordon
2. : to form a protective or restrictive cordon around (an area) : close to communication with the outside by a cordon — often used with off
were not allowed inside the front yard, which was cordoned off by the police — Marcia Davenport