1. (n.) A broad embankment of earth around a place as a defensive fortification; a bulwark\. It forms the substratum of every permanent fortification.

2. (n.) That which fortifies and defends from assault; that which secures safety; a defense or bulwark.

3. (v. t.) To surround or protect with, or as with, a rampart or ramparts.

abatis abutment advanced work arc-boutant arch dam backstop balistraria bamboo curtain bank banquette bar barbed-wire entanglement barbican barrage barricade barrier bartizan bastion battlement beam bear-trap dam beaver dam boom breakwater breastwork brick wall buffer bulkhead bulwark buttress buttress pier buttressing casemate cheval-de-frise circumvallation cofferdam contravallation counterscarp curtain dam defence defense demibastion dike ditch drawbridge earthwork embankment enclosure entanglement escarp escarpment fence fieldwork flying buttress fortalice fortification gate glacis gravity dam groin guard hanging buttress hydraulic-fill dam iron curtain jam jetty jutty leaping weir levee logjam loophole lunette machicolation mantelet merlon milldam moat mole mound outwork palisade parados parapet pier pier buttress portcullis postern gate ravelin redan redoubt retaining wall roadblock rock-fill dam sally port scarp sconce seawall security shoulder shutter dam stockade stone wall stronghold tenaille vallation vallum wall weir wicket dam work