parapet

American  

[par-uh-pit, -pet] / ˈpær ə pɪt, -ˌpɛt /

noun

1. Fortification.

   1. a defensive wall or elevation, as of earth or stone, in a fortification.

   2. an elevation raised above the main wall or rampart of a permanent fortification.

2. any low protective wall or barrier at the edge of a balcony, roof, bridge, or the like.

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parapet British  

/ -ˌpɛt, ˈpærəpɪt /

noun

1. a low wall or railing along the edge of a balcony, roof, etc

2. Also called: breastwork.  a rampart, mound of sandbags, bank, etc, in front of a trench, giving protection from fire from the front

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Other Word Forms

• parapeted
  adjective
• parapetless
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of parapet

1575–85; < Italian parapetto, equivalent to para- para- ² + petto chest, breast < Latin pectus

Explanation

A parapet originally meant a defensive mini-wall made of earth or stone that was built to protect soldiers on the roof of a fort or a castle. Now it indicates any low wall along the roof of a building, the edge of a balcony, the side of a bridge, or similar structure. When drawing castles, the most remarkable feature is the parapet on the top of the towers — the notches in the parapet were designed for soldiers to stand in but have come to look like a larger version of the crown of the king inside. Now, parapets are more likely to keep you from falling off a roof than protect you from enemy soldiers trying to storm the building.

Example Sentences

Upon arriving in New Orleans, Phelps established Camp Parapet just upriver from the city and made it known that he would welcome and protect slaves who managed to escape to his encampment.

From Slate • Sep. 22, 2015

A Union officer whom Butler sent to Camp Parapet reported that the soldiers’ influence was creating chaos on nearby plantations.

From Slate • Sep. 22, 2015

Then we rais'd and widen'd our Works in such a manner that the Rampart was 20 Foot in the Base, and 6 in Height, besides a Parapet above that of 5 Foot.

From The Travels and Adventures of James Massey by Patot, Simon Tyssot de

"I see," said I, "if my eyes and the dark Mists and Shadows deceive me not, a Figure couched upon the Parapet of the centre Arch thereof."

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 101, August 1, 1891 by Various

The circular Corbel-table gives place to a regularly moulded Cornice, carried on a series of blocks of uniform profile; and a sloped Coping covers the Parapet.

From The Seven Periods of English Architecture Defined and Illustrated by Sharpe, Edmund