1. (n.) Alt. of Defence.

2. (v. t.) To furnish with defenses; to fortify.

aegis answer apologetic apologetics apologia apology arch dam argument argumentation armament armor arms backfire backstop bamboo curtain bank bar barrage barrier bear-trap dam beaver dam bicker bickering boom breakwater breastwork brick wall buffer bulkhead bulwark casuistry cofferdam comeback confutation contention contraremonstrance controversy counteraccusation counterattack counterblast counterblow countercharge counterclaim counterfire counterinsurgency countermeasure counterreply counterrevolution counterstatement counterstep counterstroke cover dam demurrer denial dike disputation dispute ditch earthwork embankment exception exculpation excuse explanation eye fastness fence flyting fort fortress gate gravity dam groin guard hassle hubbub hydraulic-fill dam iron curtain jam jetty justification leaping weir lee levee litigation logjam logomachy milldam moat mole mound munitions objection paper war parapet passage of arms plea pleading pleadings polemic polemics portcullis preservation protection protective custody rampart rationalization rebuttal rebutter refuge refutation rejoinder replication reply response retort return rhubarb riposte roadblock rock-fill dam safeguard safekeeping safety seawall security set-to shade shadow shelter shield shutter dam special demurrer special pleading statement of defense stone wall stronghold surrebuttal surrebutter surrejoinder verbal engagement wall war of words ward watchful eye weaponry weapons weir wicket dam work wrangling