HURDLES, in fortification, are made of twigs of willows or osiers interwoven close together, sustained by long stakes. They are made in the figure of a long square, the length being five or six feet, and the breadth three and an half. The closer they are wattled together, the better. They serve to render the batteries firm, or to consolidate the passage over muddy ditches; or to cover traverses and lodgements for the defence of the workmen against fire-works or stones thrown against them.
The Romans had a kind of military execution for mutineers, called putting to death under the hurdle. The manner of it was this: The criminal was laid at his length in a shallow water, under an hurdle, upon which was heaped stones, and so pressed down till he was drowned.