palisade
UK[ˌpælɪˈseɪd]US[ˌpælɪˈseɪd]
n
a fence made of strong, pointed wooden or metal stakes fixed in the ground, used for defence.
n
a line of high, steep cliffs, especially along a river.
Morpheme Breakdown
palis
ade
palis
stake
ade
noun suffix
Etymology
the word 'palisade' entered english in the early 17th century from french, which derived it from the provençal 'palisada'. this, in turn, came from the latin 'pālus', meaning 'stake'. the latin term can be traced back to the pie root pag-/pak- meaning 'to fasten', which is also the source of words like 'pale', 'pole', and 'impale'. the suffix '-ade' is a common romance language noun suffix denoting an action or its result. thus, the literal construction 'a result of stakes' evolved to specifically mean a defensive fence made of stakes, and by geological analogy, a line of steep cliffs resembling such a barrier.
Analysis
Structure: palis (stake) + ade (noun suffix)
palis (from latin 'pālus', meaning 'stake, post'); ade (a noun-forming suffix of french/latin origin, often indicating a product or result).
Examples
the ancient fort was surrounded by a wooden palisade.
the palisades along the hudson river offer stunning views.
settlers built a palisade to protect the village from attack.