riprap

American  

[rip-rap] / ˈrɪpˌræp /

noun

1. a quantity of broken stone for foundations, revetments of embankments, etc.

2. a foundation or wall of stones thrown together irregularly.

---

verb (used with object)

riprapped, riprapping

1. to construct with or strengthen by stones, either loose or fastened with mortar.

Etymology

Origin of riprap

First recorded in 1570–80; gradational reduplication of rap ¹

Explanation

Riprap isn't a cool new genre of music; it's a layer of rocks or rubble placed on shorelines or slopes to stop erosion and protect the land. The term riprap refers to layers of large rocks, concrete, or other heavy materials used to stabilize riverbanks, coastlines, or steep hills. By absorbing the force of water or preventing landslides, riprap protects structures, natural habitats, and landscapes from erosion. Riprap is commonly seen along dams, road structures, and waterfronts, creating a barrier that serves as armor for the shoreline.

Example Sentences

The initial work will restore rock reinforcements, known as riprap, along the tracks that have degraded due to wave damage and beach erosion, the agency said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2025

Soon, a train hauling 24 gondolas and groaning with tons of riprap inched toward us.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2023

I was walking toward the riprap piles when I noticed a wooden picnic table, sun-blasted but still sturdy.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2023

Rather than absorbing wave energy, seawalls and riprap can create backwash that collides with incoming waves, engineers realized, setting off supercharged turbulence that chews away at shoreline protection and hastens erosion of adjacent land.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 20, 2022

The edge of the lake a riprap of twisted stumps, gray and weathered, the windfall trees of a hurricane years past.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy