Any structure that makes progress difficult.

synonyms: impediment, obstructer, obstruction, obstructor.

Roget 706: prevention, preclusion, obstruction, stoppage; embolus, embolism [Med.]; infarct [Med.]; interruption, interception, interclusion^†; hindrance, impedition^†; retardment^†, retardation; embarrassment, oppilation^†; coarctation^†, stricture, restriction; restraint etc. 751; inhibition etc. 761; blockade etc. (closure) 261.    interference, interposition; obtrusion; discouragement, discountenance.    impediment, let, obstacle, obstruction, knot, knag^†; check, hitch, contretemps, screw loose, grit in the oil.    bar, stile, barrier; [barrier to vehicles] turnstile, turnpike; gate, portcullis.    beaver dam; trocha^†; barricade etc. (defense) 717; wall, dead wall, sea wall, levee breakwater, groyne^†; bulkhead, block, buffer; stopper etc. 263; boom, dam, weir, burrock^†.    drawback, objection; stumbling-block, stumbling-stone; lion in the path, snag; snags and sawyers.    encumbrance, incumbrance^†; clog, skid, shoe, spoke; drag, drag chain, drag weight; stay, stop; preventive, prophylactic; load, burden, fardel^†, onus, millstone round one's neck, impedimenta; dead weight; lumber, pack; nightmare, Ephialtes^†, incubus, old man of the sea; remora.    difficulty etc. 704; insuperable etc. 471; obstacle; estoppel [Law]; ill wind; head wind etc. (opposition) 708; trammel, tether etc. (means of restraint) 752; hold back, counterpoise.    [person who hinders] damper, wet blanket, hinderer, marplot, killjoy; party pooper [Coll.]; party crasher, interloper.    trail of a red herring; opponent etc. 710.    ... show more

Roget 780: property, possession, suum cuique [Lat.], meum et tuum [Lat.].    ownership, proprietorship, lordship; seignority^†; empire etc. (dominion) 737.    interest, stake, estate, right, title, claim, demand, holding; tenure etc. (possession) 777; vested interest, contingent interest, beneficial interest, equitable interest; use, trust, benefit; legal estate, equitable estate; seizin [Law], seisin [Law].    absolute interest, paramount estate, freehold; fee tail, fee simple; estate in fee, estate in tail, estate tail; estate in tail male, estate in tail female, estate in tail general.    limitation, term, lease, settlement, strict settlement, particular estate; estate for life, estate for years, estate pur autre vie [Fr.]; remainder, reversion, expectancy, possibility.    dower, dowry, jointure^†, appanage, inheritance, heritage, patrimony, alimony; legacy etc. (gift) 784; Falcidian law, paternal estate, thirds.    assets, belongings, means, resources, circumstances; wealth etc. 803; money etc. 800; what one is worth, what one will cut up for; estate and effects.    landed property, landed real estate property; realty; land, lands; tenements; hereditaments; corporeal hereditaments, incorporeal hereditaments; acres; ground etc. (earth) 342; acquest^†, messuage, toft^†.    territory, state, kingdom, principality, realm, empire, protectorate, sphere of influence.    manor, honor, domain, demesne; farm, plantation, hacienda; allodium etc. (free) 748^†; fief, fieff^†, feoff^†, feud, zemindary^†, dependency; arado^†, merestead^†, ranch.    free lease-holds, copy lease-holds; folkland^†; chattels real; fixtures, plant, heirloom; easement; right of common, right of user.    personal property, personal estate, personal effects; personalty, chattels, goods, effects, movables; stock, stock in trade; things, traps, rattletraps, paraphernalia; equipage etc. 633.    parcels, appurtenances.    impedimenta; luggage, baggage; bag and baggage; pelf; cargo, lading.    rent roll; income etc. (receipts) 810; maul and wedges [U.S.].    patent, copyright; chose in action; credit etc. 805; debt etc. 806.    ... show more

Dutch: ballast
Polish: przeszkoda

The baggage and equipment carried by an army.