A bollard is a short vertical post. Originally it meant a post used on a ship or a quay, principally for mooring. The word now also describes a variety of structures to control or direct road traffic, such as posts arranged in a line to obstruct the passage of motor vehicles.[1][2] The American Heritage Dictionary describes this use of bollard as “chiefly British”, although the term has crept into the jargon of some American universities where dense traffic necessitates the use of bollards for access control.

In the lighting industry, the term is used to describe short, post-like light fixtures.