Cor"don (k?r"d?n; F. k?r"d?n"), n. [F., fr. corde. See Cord.]
1.
A cord or ribbon bestowed or borne as a badge of honor; a broad ribbon, usually worn after the manner of a baldric, constituting a mark of a very high grade in an honorary order. Cf. Grand cordon.
2.
The cord worn by a Franciscan friar.
Sir E. Sandys.
3. Fort.
The coping of the scarp wall, which projects beyong the face of the wall a few inches.
4. Mil.
A line or series of sentinels, or of military posts, enclosing or guarding any place or thing.
5.
A rich and ornamental lace or string, used to secure a mantle in some costumes of state.
Cordon bleu (kr`dn" bl") [F., blue cordon], a first-rate cook, or one worthy to be the cook of the cordons bleus, or Knights of the Holy Ghost, famous for their good dinners. -- Cordon sanitaire (kr`dn" s`n`tr") [F., sanitary cordon], a line of troops or military posts around a district infected with disease, to cut off communication, and thus prevent the disease from spreading.
© Webster 1913.