See Also: parapet(dictionary)
parapet(dictionary)

parapet (iou)



parapet noun & verb. L16.
[(French from) Italian parapetto lit. 'a wall breast-high', formed as PARA-2 + petto breast from Latin pectus.]
A. noun.
Military. A bank built to provide protection from the enemy's observation and fire; esp. one on top of a wall or rampart, or in front of a trench. L16.
A low wall or barrier at the edge of a balcony, roof, etc., or along the sides of a bridge, pier, etc. L16.
fig.: Southey The brows of the Surrey hills bear a parapet of modern villas.
The pavement of a street or road. local. L18.
Comb.: parapet line the line of the bottom of the parapet, esp. on a roof; parapet wall a low wall serving as a parapet.
b. verb trans. Provide or defend with a parapet. Chiefly as parapeted ppl adjective. M17.