cordon

[kawr-dn]

noun

1. a line of police, sentinels, military posts, warships, etc., enclosing or guarding an area.

2. a cord or braid worn for ornament or as a fastening.

3. a ribbon worn usually diagonally across the breast as a badge of a knightly or honorary order.

4. Fortification.

   1. a projecting course of stones at the base of a parapet.

   2. the coping of a scarp.

5. Architecture.

   1. a stringcourse, especially one having little or no projection.

   2. a cut-stone riser on a stepped ramp or the like.

6. a fruit tree or shrub trained to grow along a support or a series of such supports.

verb (used with object)

1. to surround or blockade with or as with a cordon (usually followed byoff ).

   The police cordoned off the street.

cordon

/ ˈkɔːdən /

noun

1. a chain of police, soldiers, ships, etc, stationed around an area

2. a ribbon worn as insignia of honour or rank

3. a cord or ribbon worn as an ornament or fastening

4. Also called: string course.  belt course.  table. architect an ornamental projecting band or continuous moulding along a wall

5. horticulture a form of fruit tree consisting of a single stem bearing fruiting spurs, produced by cutting back all lateral branches

verb

1. to put or form a cordon (around); close (off)

Word History and Origins

Origin of cordon¹

1400–50; Middle English < Middle French, diminutive of corde

Word History and Origins

Origin of cordon¹

C16: from Old French, literally: a little cord, from corde string, _cord

Example Sentences

It's been very quiet here this morning - not many up and about just yet - and a police cordon and vehicle remain outside the house.

From BBC

But aside from those two the list of suspects stretched long enough to cordon off a soccer field.

From Salon

"This defendant didn't move," the prosecutor said, adding an officer then "pushed him away from the officers' cordon, causing him to fall to the ground".

From BBC

Police said officers "enforced cordons in the area to prevent a breach of the peace and three arrests were made".

From BBC

Police said officers were maintaining a police cordon on Friday evening when a white car reportedly drove towards the officers, on the wrong side of the road.

From BBC

Related Words

• identification 
• insignia 
• marker 
• medallion 
• pin 
• ribbon 
• stamp 
• symbol 
• token