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

Derived 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

Parapet Walls.—The parapet walls have 12 piers at each side and 8 at each end.

From ASCE 1193: The Water-Works and Sewerage of Monterrey, N. L., Mexico The 4th article from the June, 1911, Volume LXXII, Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Paper No. 1193, Feb. 1, 1911. by Conway, George Robert Graham

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

The Parapet of the old Battery is raised to a proper Height, with a sufficient number of Ambersures—As also the Parapet on the Fort Wall.

From The Campaign of 1776 around New York and Brooklyn by Johnston, Henry P.