bulwark

bulwark
/bool"weuhrk, -wawrk, bul"-/, n.
1. a wall of earth or other material built for defense; rampart.
2. any protection against external danger, injury, or annoyance: The new dam was a bulwark against future floods.
3. any person or thing giving strong support or encouragement in time of need, danger, or doubt: Religion was his bulwark.
4. Usually, bulwarks. Naut. a solid wall enclosing the perimeter of a weather or main deck for the protection of persons or objects on deck.
v.t.
5. to fortify or protect with a bulwark; secure by or as if by a fortification.
[1375-1425; late ME bulwerk, prob. < MD bolwerc, equiv. to bol(l)e BOLE1 + werk WORK (n.); cf. BOULEVARD]
Syn. 3. support, buttress, mainstay.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • bulwark — n Bulwark, breastwork, rampart, parapet, bastion are comparable when they denote a structure above the ground that forms part of a fortification and is specifically intended for purposes of defense. Bulwark is the most general and the least… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Bulwark — Bul wark, n. [Akin to D. bolwerk, G. bollwerk, Sw. bolwerk, Dan. bolv[ a]rk, bulv[ a]rk, rampart; akin to G. bohle plank, and werk work, defense. See {Bole} stem, and {Work}, n., and cf. {Boulevard}.] 1. (Fort.) A rampart; a fortification; a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bulwark — can refer to:* An architectural term *A naval term, an extension of a ships sides above water level * Any of seven Royal Navy ships, see HMS Bulwark * Part of the town of Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales …   Wikipedia

  • bulwark — [bool′wərk, bul′wərk] n. [ME bulwerk < MDu bolwerc: see BOLE1 & WORK] 1. an earthwork or defensive wall; fortified rampart 2. BREAKWATER 3. a person or thing serving as a strong defense or protection 4. [ …   English World dictionary

  • Bulwark — Bul wark, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bulwarked}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Bulwarking}.] To fortify with, or as with, a rampart or wall; to secure by fortification; to protect. [1913 Webster] Of some proud city, bulwarked round and armed With rising towers.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bulwark — I noun abutment, asylum, barricade, barrier, bastion, battlement, buffer, bulkhead, buttress, citadel, defense, embankment, fort, fortification, fortress, guard, haven, insulation, insulator, palladium, parapet, preservation, propugnaculum,… …   Law dictionary

  • bulwark — early 15c., from M.Du. bulwerke or M.H.G. bolwerc, from bole plank, tree trunk (from P.Gmc. *bul , from PIE root *bhel (2) to blow, swell; see BOLE (Cf. bole)) + werc work. Figurative sense is from 1570s …   Etymology dictionary

  • bulwark — [n] fortification, support barrier, bastion, buffet, buttress, citadel, defense, embankment, fort, fortress, guard, mainstay, outwork, parapet, partition, protection, rampart, redoubt, safeguard, security, stronghold, vallation; concepts 96,729… …   New thesaurus

  • bulwark — ► NOUN 1) a defensive wall. 2) an extension of a ship s sides above deck level. ORIGIN from Low German and Dutch bolwerk …   English terms dictionary

  • Bulwark — Mehrere Schiffe der britischen Royal Navy trugen den Namen HMS Bulwark nach dem englischen Wort für Bollwerk. Der Bau der ersten Bulwark begann 1780, wurde aber in einem frühen Stadium eingestellt. Das Schiff wurde nie fertiggestellt. Die zweite… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • bulwark — UK [ˈbʊlwə(r)k] / US [ˈbʊlwərk] noun Word forms bulwark : singular bulwark plural bulwarks 1) [countable] formal someone or something that protects or defends something such as a belief, idea, or way of life The country is valued as a bulwark of… …   English dictionary

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