ram·part

[ram-pahrt, -pert]
noun
1.
Fortification.
a.
a broad elevation or mound of earth raised as a fortification around a place and usually capped with a stone or earth parapet. See diag. under bastion.
b.
such an elevation together with the parapet.
2.
anything serving as a bulwark or defense.
verb (used with object)
3.
to furnish with or as if with a rampart.
Origin:
1575–85; < Middle French, derivative of remparer, equivalent to re- re- + emparer to take possession of < Provençal amparar ≪ Latin ante- ante- + parāre to prepare

Synonyms
2. fortification, breastwork, barricade, guard.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
rampart (ˈræmpɑːt) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  the surrounding embankment of a fort, often including any walls, parapets, walks, etc, that are built on the bank
2.  anything resembling a rampart in form or function, esp in being a defence or bulwark
3.  (Canadian) a steep rock wall in a river gorge
 
—vb
4.  (tr) to provide with a rampart; fortify
 
[C16: from Old French, from remparer, from re- + emparer to take possession of, from Old Provençal antparar, from Latin ante before + parāre to prepare]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

rampart
1583, from M.Fr. rempart, from remparer "to fortify," from re- "again" + emparer "fortify, take possession of," from O.Prov. amparer, from V.L. *anteparare "prepare," prop. "to make preparations beforehand," from L. ante- "before" (see ante) + parare "prepare" (see pare).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
In permanent fortifications, considered to be the low stone wall constructed at
  the top of the rampart.
Importantly, this debt bubble is immensely bigger due to the rampart
  participation in the process by the world's governments.
The primary vent for the flow was producing small pulsating spattering that had
  built a small rampart on its south side.
Rampart self interest has led to our current economic condition.
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