Fr. /kawrdd dawonn sann nee terdd"/ , pl. cordons sanitaires Fr. /kawrdd dawonn sa nee terdd"/ .
1. a line around a quarantined area guarded to prevent the spread of a disease by restricting passage into or out of the area.
2. a group of neighboring, generally neutral states forming a geographical barrier between two states having aggressive military or ideological aims against each other.
[ 1840-50; ]