A wall or embankment raised as a defensive fortification; a rampart.
Something serving as a defense or safeguard: "We have seen the necessity of the Union, as our bulwark against foreign danger"(James Madison).
A breakwater.
The part of a ship's side that is above the upper deck. Often used in the plural.
tr.v.
bul·warked, bul·wark·ing, bul·warks
To fortify with a wall, embankment, or rampart.
To provide defense or protection for.
[Middle English bulwerk, from Middle Dutch bolwerk, from Middle High German bolwerc : bole, plank; see bhel-2 in Indo-European roots + werc, work (from Old High German; see werg- in Indo-European roots).]
Synonyms: These nouns refer literally to structures used as a defense against attack. A bulwark can be a mound of earth, an embankment, or a wall-like fortification. Barricade usually implies hasty construction to meet an imminent threat. Breastwork denotes a low defensive wall, especially a temporary one hurriedly built. Earthwork is a defensive construction of earth. A rampart, the main defensive structure around a guarded place, is permanent, high, and broad. A bastion is a projecting section of a fortification from which defenders have a wide range of view and fire. Parapet applies to any low fortification, typically a wall atop a rampart. Of these words bulwark and bastion are the most frequently used to refer figuratively to something regarded as being a safeguard or a source of protection: "The only sure bulwark of continuing liberty is a government strong enough to protect the interests of the people, and a people strong enough and well enough informed to maintain its sovereign control over its government" (Franklin D. Roosevelt). A free press is one of the bastions of a democracy.
an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes; "they stormed the ramparts of the city"; "they blew the trumpet and the walls came tumbling down" [syn: rampart]
2.
a fencelike structure around a deck (usually plural)
3.
a protective structure of stone or concrete; extends from shore into the water to prevent a beach from washing away [syn: breakwater]
Bou"le*vard`\, n. [F. boulevard, boulevart, fr. G. bollwerk. See Bulwark.]1. Originally, a bulwark or rampart of fortification or fortified town. 2. A public walk or street occupying the site of demolished fortifications. Hence: A broad avenue in or around a city.
Bul"wark\, n. [Akin to D. bolwerk, G. bollwerk, Sw. bolwerk, Dan. bolv["a]rk, bulv["a]rk, rampart; akin to G. bohle plank, and werk work, defense. See Bole stem, and Work, n., and cf. Boulevard.]1. (Fort.) A rampart; a fortification; a bastion or outwork. 2. That which secures against an enemy, or defends from attack; any means of defense or protection. The royal navy of England hath ever been its greatest defense, . . . the floating bulwark of our island. --Blackstone. 3. pl. (Naut.) The sides of a ship above the upper deck. Syn: See Rampart.
Bul"wark\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bulwarked; p. pr. & vb.n. Bulwarking.] To fortify with, or as with, a rampart or wall; to secure by fortification; to protect. Of some proud city, bulwarked round and armed With rising towers. --Glover.
Ram"part\, n. [F. rempart, OF. rempar, fr. remparer to fortify, se remparer to fence or intrench one's self; re- re- pref. + pref. en- (L. in) + parer to defend, parry, prepare, L. parare to prepape. See Pare.]1. That which fortifies and defends from assault; that which secures safety; a defense or bulwark. 2. (Fort.) A broad embankment of earth round a place, upon which the parapet is raised. It forms the substratum of every permanent fortification. --Mahan. Syn: Bulwark; fence; security; guard. Usage: Rampart, Bulwark. These words were formerly interchanged; but in modern usage a distinction has sprung up between them. The rampart of a fortified place is the enceinte or main embankment or wall which surrounds it. The term bulwark is now applied to peculiarly strong outworks which project for the defense of the rampart, or main work. A single bastion is a bulwark. In using these words figuratively, rampart is properly applied to that which protects by walling out; bulwark to that which stands in the forefront of danger, to meet and repel it. Hence, we speak of a distinguished individual as the bulwark, not the rampart, of the state. This distinction, however, is often disregarded.
![[P]](http://cache.lexico.com/g/d/premium_mh.gif){kind=small}
Audio Help [boo
