Fascine
/fəˈsiːn/noun
A bundle of sticks or brushwood, especially one used in military engineering to reinforce earthworks or fill ditches.
Did you know?Roman fasces—bundles of rods carried by officials as symbols of authority—come from the same Latin root, later inspiring the name of fascism.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
fascis
“A bundle or packet, especially a bundle of rods”
Classical Latin
Latin
fascina
“A bundle of sticks or brushwood”
Medieval Latin
Latin
fascina
“Brushwood bundled for military or construction use”
14th Century
Old French
fascine
“A bundle of sticks used in fortification and siege work”
16th Century
English
fascine
“A bundle of sticks used to strengthen earthworks or fill ditches”
Modern English
English
fascine
“Brushwood bundled for military engineering, erosion control, or similar structural purposes”