bridgehead, foothold (noun)

an area in hostile territory that has been captured and is held awaiting further troops and supplies

"an attempt to secure a bridgehead behind enemy lines"; "the only foothold left for British troops in Europe was Gibraltar"

bridgehead (noun)

a defensive post at the end of a bridge nearest to the enemy

bridgehead (Noun)

An area around the end of a bridge.

bridgehead (Noun)

A fortification around the end of a bridge.

bridgehead (Noun)

An area of ground on the enemy's side of a bridge, especially one that needs to be taken and defended in order to secure an advance.

bridgehead (Noun)

Either of the two atoms in different parts of a molecule that are connected by a bridge.

Bridgehead

A bridgehead is the strategically important area of ground around the end of a bridge or other place of possible crossing over a body of water which at time of conflict is sought to be defended/taken over by the belligerent forces. Bridgeheads typically exist for only a few days, the invading forces either being thrown back or expanding the bridgehead to create a secure defensive lodgement area, before breaking out into enemy territoty; as happened when the U.S. 9th Armored Division seized the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen in 1945 during World War II. In some cases, such as during the Gallipoli Campaign in World War I, a bridgehead may exist for months.

Bridgehead

In military strategy, a bridgehead (or bridge-head) is the strategically important area of ground around the end of a bridge or other place of possible crossing over a body of water which at time of conflict is sought to be defended or taken over by the belligerent forces. Bridgeheads typically exist for only a few days, the invading forces either being thrown back or expanding the bridgehead to create a secure defensive lodgement area, before breaking out into enemy territory, such as when the U.S. 9th Armored Division seized the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen in 1945 during World War II. In some cases a bridgehead may exist for months.