rampart

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes

   They stormed the ramparts of the city.

2. 2
   noun

   A defensive mound of earth or a wall with a broad top and usually a stone parapet; a wall-like ridge of earth, stones or debris; an embankment for defensive purpose.

   Between the southern end of the village, called Bridge End, and the River Thames runs a double row of ramparts and a ditch known as Dyke Hills.

3. 3
   verb

   To defend with a rampart; fortify or surround with a rampart.

   Those grassy Hills, those glitt’ring Dells Proudly ramparted with rocks.

Borrowed from Middle French rempart (“rampart of a fort”), from Old French remparer (“to defend, fortify, inclose with a rampart”), from re- (“again”) + emparer (“defend, fortify, surround, seize, take possession of”), from Old Occitan amparer, from Vulgar Latin *anteparō (“to prepare”), from ante- + parō (“to prepare”).

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