A palisade is a type of fence or defensive wall made of closely placed, high vertical standing tree trunks or wooden or iron stakes. Palisades can be used for enclosure or as a defensive structure. The word "palisade" comes from the Latin word "pālus," meaning stake. Palisades were often used in conjunction with earthworks as a defensive structure. They were commonly used in Colonial North America for protection against indigenous peoples and wild animals. Palisades were also used in ancient Greece and Rome. In addition to being used as a fence, "palisade" can also refer to a high cliff or a line of high cliffs, especially alongside a river or coastline.