The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Cordon \Cor"don\ (k[^o]r"d[o^]n; F. k[^o]r`d[^o]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.
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   2. The cord worn by a Franciscan friar. --Sir E. Sandys.
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   3. (Fort.) The coping of the scarp wall, which projects
      beyong the face of the wall a few inches.
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   4. (Mil.) A line or series of sentinels, or of military
      posts, inclosing or guarding any place or thing.
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   5. A rich and ornamental lace or string, used to secure a
      mantle in some costumes of state.
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   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. Also used
      figuratively, of a group of neutral states that forms a
      barrier between two hostile states.
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