barricata

barricade

noun bar-ree-KAH-tah Rare

Origin: French barricade, from barrique (barrel) — barrels were used to build street blockades

Usage Note

Barricata refers to a physical street barricade, historically associated with revolutions (le barricate del 1848). The idiom essere dall'altra parte della barricata = 'to be on the other side of the barricade' (i.e., to be on the opposing side), used figuratively in everyday speech. Plural: barricate.

Examples

"I manifestanti hanno eretto barricate in strada."

Natural Translation

The protesters erected barricades in the street.

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