/ab"euh tee', -tis, euh bat"ee, euh bat"is/ , n. , pl. abatis /ab"euh teez', euh bat"eez/ , abatises /ab"euh tis'iz, euh bat"euh siz/ .
1. an obstacle or barricade of trees with bent or sharpened branches directed toward an enemy.
2. a barbed wire entanglement used as an obstacle or barricade against an enemy.
[ 1760-70; abateis abatteticius, deriv. of OF abattre (see ABATE) ]