[Noun of action f. prec.: see -ATION.]
1. The making of a rampart or entrenchment round a place, esp. in besieging.
1654. H. L’Estrange, Chas. I. (1655), 69. The Duke fals to circumvallation and entrenchment, rearing many batteries.
1772. Priestley, Inst. Relig. (1782), II. 442. The circumvallation of Jerusalem.
1836. Thirlwall, Greece, III. xix. 104. He set about completing the circumvallation, and the place was soon closely blockaded.
b. Line of circumvallation: a line of earth-works consisting of a rampart and trench surrounding a besieged place or the camp of a besieging army. So wall of circumvallation, etc.
1641. Evelyn, Diary, 3 Aug. At night we rode about the lines of circumvallation.
1662. Gerbier, Princ., 12. The Walls of Circumvallation of that Pallace, being four and twenty foote thick.
1760–72. trans. Juan & Ulloa’s Voy. (ed. 3), I. VI. xi. 473. The outward moat of circumvallation was above a league in extent.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U. S., IV. xxxviii. 605. The line of circumvallation was already closed.
c. transf. and fig.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., III. xv. xix. A circumvallation of the holy mysteries.
2. concr. A rampart or entrenchment constructed round any place by way of investment or defence.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), I. 182. The huge circuit of Spinola’s works; for his circumvallations are cried up to be near upon twenty miles.
1677. Plot, Oxfordsh., 334. There is … a small Circumvallation in a Wood South and by West of Harpsden Church.
1845. Petrie, Eccl. Archit. Irel., 445. The circumvallations, or circular enclosures, which usually encompassed the group of buildings.
b. transf. and fig.
1775. Sheridan, St. Patr. Day, I. i. The London Ladies … are so defended, such a circumvallation of hoop, with a breastwork of whalebone, [etc.].
1807. Anna Porter, Hungar. Bro. (Warne), 59. We may have so many circumvallations of ceremony to pass through.
1859. Tennent, Ceylon, II. VII. v. 194. Surrounded by a double circumvallation of mountains.
