cheval de frise
/ʃəˈvɑːl də ˈfɹiːz/
"cheval-de-frise" is a 13-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“cheval de frise” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 15
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An obstacle made of wood with spikes, for use against attacking cavalry.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | cheval de frise |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ʃəˈvɑːl də ˈfɹiːz/ |
| Letters | 15 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “cheval de frise” sits in English frequency
Rare enough to double-check
cheval de frise is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ʃəˈvɑːl də ˈfɹiːz/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.
We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for cheval de frise, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. No close-neighbour confusable shows up for this headword in our dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.
Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from French cheval de frise (“Frisian horse”), so named because it was employed by the Dutch (who lacked cavalry) against the Spanish cavalry in their war for independence. The correct English form is cheval de frise, spelled C-H-E-V-A-L- -D-E- -F-R-I-S-E.
Definition
- 1An obstacle made of wood with spikes, for use against attacking cavalry.
- 2Protective row of spikes or broken glass set into the top of a wall and used to prevent intrusion.
- 3The jagged edge of 18th-century women's clothing.
Etymology
Borrowed from French cheval de frise (“Frisian horse”), so named because it was employed by the Dutch (who lacked cavalry) against the Spanish cavalry in their war for independence.
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “cheval de frise”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is C-H-E-V-A-L- -D-E- -F-R-I-S-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ʃəˈvɑːl də ˈfɹiːz/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.