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ravelin

American  
[rav-lin] / ˈræv lɪn /

noun

Fortification.
  1. a V -shaped outwork outside the main ditch and covering the works between two bastions.


ravelin British  
/ ˈrævlɪn /

noun

  1. fortifications an outwork having two embankments at a salient angle

"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

Etymology

Origin of ravelin

1580–90; < Middle French, earlier revelin < Italian rivellino, diminutive of riva bank, rim

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The ravelin is here introduced, and made so large that its faces are in prolongation of those of the bastions.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 6 "Foraminifera" to "Fox, Edward" by Various

The ordinary ravelin he replaced by a heavy casemated caponier after the example of Montalembert, and, like Bousmard’s, his own ravelin was a large and powerful work pushed out beyond the glacis.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 8 "Chariot" to "Chatelaine" by Various

N. New form of work called a demi-lune lunett�e, the ravelin N being protected by two counterguards, O. P. Re-entering places of arms.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 6 "Foraminifera" to "Fox, Edward" by Various

But the greatest loss of the besieged was that of the counterscarp and ravelin.

From History of the Reign of Philip the Second, King of Spain, Vols. 1 and 2 by Prescott, William Hickling

The ravelin and bastions were thus captured successively, and where the bastions had been retrenched the same methods were used against the retrenchment.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 6 "Foraminifera" to "Fox, Edward" by Various