HURDLES, in fortification, are made of twigs of
willows or oaks 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 bat-
teries firm, or to consolidate the passage over muddy
ditches; or to cover traverses and judgments 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.