glacis noun. ['glasɪs, -si] Pl. same [-sɪz, -si:z]. L17.
[French, from Old French glacier to slip, slide, from glace: see GLACIER.]
1. A gently sloping bank; spec. in Fortification, a natural or artificial bank sloping down from the covered way of a fort so as to expose attackers to the defenders' missiles etc. L17.
b. fig. A zone or area, esp. a small country, acting as a protective barrier or buffer between two (potentially) enemy countries. M20.

2. In full glacis-plate. A sloping armour-plate protecting an opening etc. in a ship. L19.

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