Coupure is a French word that refers to a defensive ditch, rampart, or trench used in fortifications. Some popular synonyms for the term include moat, trench, ditch, rampart, and parapet. A moat, for instance, is a deep, wide water-filled ditch that surrounds a fortress or castle, serving as protection against invaders. A trench, on the other hand, is an excavation in the ground used for defensive purposes during warfare. Other synonyms for coupure include barrier, barricade, palisade, and bulwark. These terms all refer to protective structures used in defensive measures to prevent incursion from the enemy.