barrel-pier

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A support for a military bridge formed of empty casks or barrels joined together in a raft, in the absence of pontoons or boats. The rafts of barrels for the abutments are made fast to the shore on each side of the stream or body of water to be crossed, and those forming the piers are anchored at proper intervals between the two banks. These rafts are connected by sleepers or timbers, which are lashed to them and support the planks forming the roadway of the bridge.