A gabion (cage filled with earth or rock) placed opposite to another gabion for reinforcement or to create opposing resistance in fortifications or earth retention.
From counter- + gabion (Italian gabbione, meaning 'big cage'). This military engineering term dates to 18th-century fortification techniques.
Armies realized that stacking wire baskets filled with rocks in pairs could create incredibly strong, quickly-built defensive walls that water could drain through—making them perfect for riverbanks and trenches.
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