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siege
siege assault against a city or fortress with the purpose of capturing it. The history of siegecraft parallels the development of fortification and, later, artillery . In early times battering rams and bores were employed to break down the walls and gates of a fortified place (see castle ) if deception, treachery, starvation, or storm could not carry it. To protect the attackers from missiles, hot oil, and incendiaries launched by the defenders, a shelter was constructed, usually from huge wicker shields covered with wood or hide (mantelets). Mounds and movable wooden towers were built by both besieger and besieged in a race to attain heights from which the adversary could be assailed. Engines of war, such as the catapult , were brought into play by both sides to hurl stones, spears, pots of fire, and arrows. It was also common for besiegers to build a wall (circumvallation) around their objective to prevent sorties and a second wall (contravallation) around their own army as security against relieving forces. Mining was employed by the assailants from earliest times, and the besieged dug countermines in defense; such tactics greatly increased in effectiveness with the introduction of gunpowder. Artillery that could breach high walls made it necessary to lower and extend medieval fortifications and mount defensive artillery. Many sieges became artillery duels. The development of tanks, aircraft, and missiles in the 20th cent. has given the besieger a great advantage in firepower and mobility. Some notable sieges of history include those of Syracuse (415–413 BC), Jerusalem (AD 70), Acre (1189–90), Constantinople (1453), Quebec (1759–60), Sevastopol (1854–55, 1941–42), Vicksburg (1863), Port Arthur (1904), Malta (1940–43), Leningrad (1941–43), Dienbienphu (1954) and Khe Sanh (1968).
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"siege." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "siege." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-siege.html "siege." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-siege.html |
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siege
siege / sēj/ • n. a military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or building, cutting off essential supplies, with the aim of compelling the surrender of those inside: Verdun had withstood a siege of ten weeks | [as adj.] siege warfare. ∎ a similar operation by a police or other force to compel the surrender of an armed person. ∎ a prolonged period of misfortune: I've been having a siege of headaches. PHRASES: lay siege to conduct a siege of (a place): government forces laid siege to the building fig. the press laid siege to her apartment. under siege (of a place) undergoing a siege. |
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"siege." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "siege." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-siege.html "siege." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-siege.html |
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siege
siege Military operation to surround a community. It was a common experience in the ancient world for towns to be surrounded by an enemy and all supplies cut off. The defenders built walls and gates to resist the enemy, and sometimes were successful. Samaria held out against the Assyrians for three years, until 722. The siege against Jerusalem in 701 was lifted and the city remained free until the Babylonian siege of 597 when Nebuchadnezzar attacked it (2 Kgs. 25: 1). Some of the Roman siege works against Masada are still visible.
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W. R. F. BROWNING. "siege." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. W. R. F. BROWNING. "siege." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-siege.html W. R. F. BROWNING. "siege." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-siege.html |
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siege
siege sēj n. a military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or building, cutting off essential supplies, with the aim of compelling the surrender of those inside: Verdun had withstood a siege of ten weeks.
lay siege to conduct a siege of (a place): government forces laid siege to the building. under siege (of a place) undergoing a siege. |
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Cite this article
"siege." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "siege." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-siege.html "siege." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-siege.html |
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Siege
Siegeof herons: company of herons, from the way the heron waits for its prey in the shallows at its feet, 1452. Examples : siege of bitterns, 1452; of cranes; of herons, 1452. |
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"Siege." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Siege." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505301395.html "Siege." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505301395.html |
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siege
siege XIII. ME. sege — OF. sege (mod. siège), f. assegier (mod. assièger) BESIEGE.
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T. F. HOAD. "siege." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "siege." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-siege.html T. F. HOAD. "siege." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-siege.html |
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siege
siege
•besiege, liege, prestige, siege
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"siege." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "siege." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-siege.html "siege." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-siege.html |
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