rampart
pronunciation
How to pronounce rampart in British English:
UK [ˈræmpɑ:t]
How to pronounce rampart in American English:
US [ˈræmpɑrt]
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- Noun:
- an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
Word Origin
- rampart
- rampart: [16] Rampart, which means etymologically ‘fortified place’, has a very convoluted history. Its ultimate ancestor is Latin parāre ‘prepare’ (source of English prepare). To this was added the prefix ante- ‘before’ to produce the Vulgar Latin verb *anteparāre ‘prepare for defence’. This passed via Provençal amparar into Old French as emparer ‘defend, fortify’, which had the intensive re- prefixed to it, giving remparer ‘fortify’. From this was derived the noun remper or ramper, which was altered (apparently under the influence of boulevart, source of English boulevard) to rempart or rampart – whence English rampart.=> prepare
- rampart (n.)
- "earthen elevation around a place for fortification," sometimes also including parapets, 1580s, from Middle French rempart, rampart, from remparer "to fortify," from re- "again" (see re-) + emparer "fortify, take possession of," from Old Provençal amparer, from Vulgar Latin *anteparare "prepare," properly "to make preparations beforehand," from Latin ante- "before" (see ante) + parare "prepare" (see pare). With excrescent -t in French, perhaps by influence of boulevart (see boulevard).
Example
- 1. Rampart notes , south fruit , spices and seasonings .
- 2. Projecting part of a rampart or other fortification .
- 3. Johnston did stand like an iron rampart in the mountains above dalton , one hundred miles away .
- 4. We stayed at beatrice house on rampart street , a charmingly ramshackle villa that dated back to the 17th century .
- 5. The rampart was destroyed totally .