n. [ F., fr. corde. See Cord. ] 1. A cord or ribbon bestowed or borne as a badge of honor; a broad ribbon, usually worn after the manner of a baldric, constituting a mark of a very high grade in an honorary order. Cf. Grand cordon. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. The cord worn by a Franciscan friar. Sir E. Sandys. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. (Fort.) The coping of the scarp wall, which projects beyong the face of the wall a few inches. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. (Mil.) A line or series of sentinels, or of military posts, inclosing or guarding any place or thing. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. A rich and ornamental lace or string, used to secure a mantle in some costumes of state. [ 1913 Webster ] ‖Cordon sanitaire ety>[ F., sanitary cordon ], a line of troops or military posts around a district infected with disease, to cut off communication, and thus prevent the disease from spreading. Also used figuratively, of a group of neutral states that forms a barrier between two hostile states. [ 1913 Webster ]
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