contravallation

• countervallation (archaic)

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”)).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌkɒntɹəvəˈleɪʃən/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌkɑntɹəvəˈleɪʃən/
• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

contravallation (plural contravallations)

1. A fortification built around a sieged target by the besiegers.

   Antonym: circumvallation