pavisade, pavesade Now Hist.
(pævɪˈseɪd)
Also 6–8 pavoisade.
[a. F. pavesade, pavezade (1550 in Hatz.-Darm.), pavoisade (Cotgr.), ad. It. pavesata (Florio), in Sp. pavesada (Minsheu), f. It. pavese: see pavis and -ade 1.]
A defence or screen made of pavises or other shields joined in a continuous line, used both in land warfare and on board ship; hence, a screen of canvas run round the sides of a ship in order to defend the crew from missiles, and hide the operations on board from the view of the enemy.
| 1600 Holland Livy x. 373 The pavoisade or tortuse-fense. 1656 Blount Glossogr. (from Cotgr.), Pavoisade, any Target⁓fence, that of Galleys, whereby the slaves are defended from the smal shot of the Enemy. 1685 Cotton tr. Montaigne iii. vi. (1711) III. 159 A Number of Harquebusiers, drawn up ready, and charg'd, and all cover'd with a Pavesade like a Galliot. 1708 Kersey, Pavoisade or Pavezado. 1823 Crabb Technol. Dict., Pavesade (Mil.), pavoisade, or pavisade, French for a sail cloth hung round a galley during action to cover the slaves that row on the benches. |