laager

Etymology

From South African Dutch lager (“camp”) (modern Afrikaans laer), from German Lager, from Middle High German leger, from Old High German legar, from Proto-Germanic *legrą. Doublet of lager and lair.

noun

1. A defensive encampment encircled by wagons, especially by South African Boers.
   Wagons […] can be readily formed into a laager, a camp, by being drawn into a circle, with the oxen placed inside and so kept safe from the attacks of wild beasts. 1897, James Bryce, Impressions of South Africa
   “And for how long d'you think you're going to be safe in the cities?” Louis persisted. “Just a matter of time, then our frontiers will shrink as we draw our little laager more and more tightly.” 1978, André Brink, Rumours of Rain, Vintage, published 2000, page 332
2. (military) A temporary formation of armoured vehicles for resupply.

verb

1. (transitive) To arrange in a circular formation for defence.
   At the foot of this isolated mount, whereof the aspect somehow filled me with alarm, we camped on the night of January 21, taking no precautions against attack by way of laagering the wagons. 1917, H. Rider Haggard, Finished
2. (intransitive) To camp in a circular formation.
   That evening, we laagered close to a large open area covered with elephant grass about six feet high. 2000, Jeff Dossett, Delayed Detonation, page 44