bulwark (redirected from bulwarking)

bul·wark  (blwrk, -wôrk, bl-)

n.

1. A wall or embankment raised as a defensive fortification; a rampart.

2. Something serving as a defense or safeguard: "We have seen the necessity of the Union, as our bulwark against foreign danger" (James Madison).

3. A breakwater.

4. The part of a ship's side that is above the upper deck. Often used in the plural.

tr.v. bul·warked, bul·wark·ing, bul·warks

1. To fortify with a wall, embankment, or rampart.

2. To provide defense or protection for.

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[Middle English bulwerk, from Middle Dutch bolwerk, from Middle High German bolwerc : bole, plank; see bhel-² in Indo-European roots + werc, work (from Old High German; see werg- in Indo-European roots).]

Synonyms: bulwark, barricade, breastwork, earthwork, rampart, bastion, parapet
These nouns refer literally to structures used as a defense against attack. A bulwark can be a mound of earth, an embankment, or a wall-like fortification. Barricade usually implies hasty construction to meet an imminent threat. Breastwork denotes a low defensive wall, especially a temporary one hurriedly built. Earthwork is a defensive construction of earth. A rampart, the main defensive structure around a guarded place, is permanent, high, and broad. A bastion is a projecting section of a fortification from which defenders have a wide range of view and fire. Parapet applies to any low fortification, typically a wall atop a rampart. Of these words bulwark and bastion are the most frequently used to refer figuratively to something regarded as being a safeguard or a source of protection: "The only sure bulwark of continuing liberty is a government strong enough to protect the interests of the people, and a people strong enough and well enough informed to maintain its sovereign control over its government" (Franklin D. Roosevelt). A free press is one of the bastions of a democracy.

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bulwark

Noun

1. a wall or similar structure used as a fortification; rampart

2. a person or thing acting as a defence [Middle High German bolwerk]

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Bulwark a collection of persons acting as a defense or safeguard to protect an ideal or way of life.

Examples: bulwark of Christendom, 1577; of our laws, 1614; of our liberties, 1789; to theology, 1837.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	bulwark - 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" rampart, wall bailey - the outer defensive wall that surrounds the outer courtyard of a castle battlement, crenelation, crenellation - a rampart built around the top of a castle with regular gaps for firing arrows or guns earthwork - an earthen rampart embankment - a long artificial mound of stone or earth; built to hold back water or to support a road or as protection fortification, munition - defensive structure consisting of walls or mounds built around a stronghold to strengthen it fraise - sloping or horizontal rampart of pointed stakes merlon - a solid section between two crenels in a crenelated battlement
	2.	bulwark - a fencelike structure around a deck (usually plural) barrier - a structure or object that impedes free movement ship - a vessel that carries passengers or freight
	3.	bulwark - a protective structure of stone or concrete; extends from shore into the water to prevent a beach from washing away breakwater, groyne, jetty, seawall, groin, mole barrier - a structure or object that impedes free movement
Verb	1.	bulwark - defend with a bulwark defend - be on the defensive; act against an attack

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bulwark

noun 1. fortification, defence, bastion, buttress, rampart, redoubt, outwork

noun 2. defence, support, safeguard, security, guard, buffer, mainstay

Translations

bulwark

n bulwark [ˈbulwək]

a wall built as a defence, often made of earth. bolwerk, verskansing حِصْن، مِتْراس насип val, opevnění værn; skanse das Bollwerk πρόχωμα, οχυρό baluarte kaitsevall سنگر suojavalli rempart סוֹלֶלַת מָגֵן किला, दुर्ग bedem bástya kubu pertahanan bastione とりで 방벽 pylimas aizsargvalnis benteng wal festningsmur, –voll, bolverk wał ochronny amurada meterez вал val okop bedem bålverk ป้อมปราการ siper 堡壘 вал; бастіон پشتہ بندی ، بچاؤ ، پناہ bức tường thành 堡垒