Cordon \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, inclosing 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 (k?r`d?n" 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 (k?r`d?n" s?`n?`t?r") [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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)