bulwark

Meanings

Noun

• A defensive wall or rampart.
• A defense or safeguard.
• A breakwater.
• 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.
• Any means of defence or security.

Verb

• To fortify something with a wall or rampart.
• To provide protection of defense for something.

Origin

• From Middle English bulwerk, from Middle Dutch bolwerk, bolwerc and Middle Low German bolwerk, equivalent to bole + work. Cognate with German Bollwerk, Danish bolværk, Swedish bålverk, Dutch bolwerk. boulevard (from French boulevard, from Dutch); cognate with Portuguese and Spanish baluarte and Italian baluardo.