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escalade

[ es-kuh-leyd, -lahd, es-kuh-leyd, -lahd ]
/ ˌɛs kəˈleɪd, -ˈlɑd, ˈɛs kəˌleɪd, -ˌlɑd /
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noun

a scaling or mounting by means of ladders, especially in an assault upon a fortified place.

verb (used with object), es·ca·lad·ed, es·ca·lad·ing.

to mount, pass, or enter by means of ladders.

RELATED WORDS

escalate, rise, soar, arise, mount, scale, top, ascend, clamber, back, up, lift, vault, tower, bestride, surmount

Nearby words

  1. esbo,
  2. esc.,
  3. escabeche,
  4. escadrille,
  5. escadrille américaine,
  6. escalate,
  7. escalation,
  8. escalator,
  9. escalator clause,
  10. escalatory

Origin of escalade

1590–1600; < Middle French < Old Provençal *escalada, equivalent to escal(ar) to scale3 + -ada -ade1
Related formses·ca·lad·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for escalade

British Dictionary definitions for escalade

escalade

/ (ˌɛskəˈleɪd) /

noun

an assault by the use of ladders, esp on a fortification

verb

to gain access to (a place) by the use of ladders
Derived Formsescalader, noun

Word Origin for escalade

C16: from French, from Italian scalata, from scalare to mount, scale ³
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for escalade

escalade

n.

1590s, "action of using ladders to scale the walls of a fortified place," from Middle French escalade (16c.) "an assault with ladders on a fortification," from Italian scalata, fem. past participle of scalare "to climb by means of a ladder," from scala "ladder," related to Latin scandere "to climb" (see scan). For initial e-, see especial.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper