rampart - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

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 possesion of”), from Old Occitan amparer, from Vulgar Latin *anteparō (“to prepare”), from ante- +‎ parō (“to prepare”).

rampart (plural ramparts)

  1. 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.
  2. A defensive structure; a protective barrier; a bulwark.
  3. That which defends against intrusion from outside; a protection.
  4. (usually in the plural) A steep bank of a river or gorge.

defensive ridge of earth

defensive structure; bulwark

protection against intrusion

rampart (third-person singular simple present ramparts, present participle ramparting, simple past and past participle ramparted)

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