Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PAL-I-SADE', n. [Fr. palissade; Sp. palizada; It. palizzata; from pale, or the same root. The Welsh has palis a thin partition of boards or laths, a wainscot; palisaw, to wainscot.]

A fence or fortification consisting of a row of stakes or posts sharpened, and set firmly in the ground. In fortification, the posts are set two or three inches apart, parallel to the parapet in the covered way, to prevent a surprise. Palisades serve also to fortify the avenues of open forts, gorges, half moons, the bottom of ditches, &c. – Encyc.