breastwork

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a low defensive wall or earthwork high enough to protect a fighter's chest

   The troops fired from behind a breastwork of earth and sandbags.

2. 2
   noun

   a raised armored structure protecting vital parts of an older warship

   The vessel's guns and machinery were protected by a central breastwork.

Formed from breast + work, originally denoting defensive work built roughly breast-high. The term later also named a raised armored enclosure on certain nineteenth-century warships.

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