Gabion

[Fr.; It. gabbione, aug. of gabbia, a cage, from L. Lat. gabia, Lat. cave a, an enclosure, from cavus, hollow.] ( Mil. ) A basket or cylinder made of wickerwork, open at both ends, used in the construction of earthworks. These baskets, which are 2 ft. 9 in. in height, and 2 ft. in diameter, are thus made: A number of stakes, varying from about 21 to 27, according to the flexibility of the osiers or brushwood that are used in making the G., are driven into the ground at equal intervals round the circumference of a circle traced thereon, with a radius of 11 in., that the outer diameter of the G. may not exceed 2 ft. when it is completed. The willow rods, or any other material that can be obtained which is suitable for the purpose, are then twisted between and about the stakes, each succe ive layer of rods being tightly pre ed against the one below it, until the basket-work has attained the requisite height. The G. is then pulled up, the osiers at the top and bottom are secured to prevent them from coming out of place, and the ends of the stakes are cut off about 3 in. from the basket Fig. 1095. GABION.