Mil. Also 8 erron. estocade. [Fr., ad. Sp. estacada, f. estaca stake; sense 2 arises from a confusion with It. steccata (which has this sense), f. stecca lath.]
1. A dike constructed of piles in the sea, a river, or a morass, to check the approach of an enemy. Cf. STOCKADE.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, C viij b. The Town had held out till the Sea overturned the Ditch and the Estacade.
1755. Carte, Hist. Eng., IV. 194. Beyond that a third of ships sunk forming an estocade.
1777. Watson, Philip II. (1793), II. XIII. 171/2. He formed in the most shallow parts an estacade, a work of prodigious labour.
1847. in Craig.
b. An arrangement of stakes for defence.
1827. Southey, Penins. War, II. 715. The Spaniards made every exertion to defend it [a breach in the Baluarte del Rey] with sacks of earth, estacades, and whatever other obstacles they could oppose to the enemy.
2. A raft made of balks of timber, fastened together with chains, used to block up a channel or harbor-mouth.
1670. Cotton, Espernon, II. VIII. 393. He propounded at last a Machine, which was an Estacade, or kind of floating Fort.
