What does bollard mean?
Word: Bollard
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Bollard means a short, thick post that stops vehicles from going on to a road or path. It is also a post by the water that a ship's rope is tied to.
How do you spell bollard?
Syllables: bol - lard
Tricky part: Two l letters sit in the middle, but the ear catches only one, so many pupils stop at a single l.
Watch out for: bolard, boulard
Memory tip: Picture two of these short posts side by side: the double l in the middle looks just like them.
Bollard in a sentence
Example 1: The town put up bollards around the market square to make it safe for shoppers.
Example 2: Samuel's cycle squeezed between the two bollards at the park gate.
Example 3: The sailors looped a thick rope round a big iron bollard on the harbour wall.
Fun Fact
Some modern bollards can sink into the road at the press of a button, so that buses and fire engines can pass while other traffic is kept out.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the correct option to make a meaningful word:
boll_ _ _
a) erd
b) urd
c) ord
d) ard
Show answer
d) ard. The ending is the same as in the words hard and card.
Jumble Tumble
What is the meaning of the word that can be formed from the given letters?
albrdlo
a) a raised stripe painted across a road
b) a low, solid barrier that keeps traffic out
c) a tall pole that holds up a street lamp
d) a small shelter for people waiting for a bus
Show answer
b) a low, solid barrier that keeps traffic out. Rearranged, the seven letters give the word on this page.
Word Puzzle
Match the words with their meanings:
1. bollard 2. kerb 3. pavement a. the raised stone edge of a road b. a paved path for walkers beside a road c. a stumpy pillar that blocks traffic
a) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
b) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
c) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
d) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
Show answer
b) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b. People walk on a pavement, its edge is the kerb, and the stumpy pillar stands guard to block cars.
Word Tally
Give 2 marks for each correctly spelt word. How many marks in all?
bollard, pavement, junction, trafic, crossing, signel
a) 6
b) 10
c) 8
d) 4
Show answer
c) 8. Traffic needs a double f and signal ends in al, so four words are right, and four times 2 is 8.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What is the main job of the bollards at a park gate?
a) collecting rainwater from the path
b) showing visitors the opening hours
c) letting walkers in and keeping cars out
d) holding up the roof of the gate
Show answer
c) letting walkers in and keeping cars out
2. A ship's crew throws a rope over a bollard. What is the crew doing?
a) measuring how deep the water is
b) lowering the flag on the ship
c) holding the ship steady at the quay
d) washing down the deck of the ship
Show answer
c) holding the ship steady at the quay
