BULWARK

breakwater, groin, groyne, mole, bulwark, seawall, jetty

(noun) a protective structure of stone or concrete; extends from shore into the water to prevent a beach from washing away

bulwark

(noun) a fencelike structure around a deck (usually plural)

rampart, bulwark, wall

(noun) 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”

bulwark

(verb) defend with a bulwark

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

bulwark (plural bulwarks)

A defensive wall or rampart.

A defense or safeguard.

A breakwater.

(nautical) The planking or plating along the sides of a nautical vessel above her gunwale that reduces the likelihood of seas washing over the gunwales and people being washed overboard.

(figurative) Any means of defence or security.

Verb

bulwark (third-person singular simple present bulwarks, present participle bulwarking, simple past and past participle bulwarked)

(transitive) To fortify something with a wall or rampart.

(transitive) To provide protection of defense for something.

Source: Wiktionary


Bul"wark, n. Etym: [Akin to D. bolwerk, G. bollwerk, Sw. bolwerk, Dan. bolvärk, bulvärk, rampart; akin to G. bohle plank, and werk work, defense. See Bole stem, and Work, n., and cf. Boulevard.]

1. (Fort.)

Definition: 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.)

Definition: 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.]

Definition: 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

23 May 2025

THOUGHTFULLY

(adverb) showing consideration and thoughtfulness; “he had thoughtfully brought with him some food to share”


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Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, on 25 September 2016, the Birla Institute of Management Technology (India) in Uttar Pradesh, India, constructed the largest coffee cups pyramid consisting of 23,821 cups. They used paper takeaway coffee cups to build the pyramid.

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