ga|bi|on

ga|bi|on «GAY bee uhn», noun.

1. a cylinder of wicker filled with earth, formerly used as a military defense. In modern warfare, sandbags are used in place of gabions.

2. a metal cylinder filled with stones, used in building dams, supporting bridge foundations, or the like.

╂[< Middle French gabion < Italian gabbione large cage < gabbia cage < Latin cavea cage, cave < cavus hollow]