scarp

(skärp)

noun

  1. a steep slope; specif., an escarpment or cliff extending along the edge of a plateau, mesa, etc.
  2. the inner slope of a ditch below a rampart

Origin: It scarpa, a scarp, slope < Goth *skrapa, akin to OE scræf, cave, hollow < IE *(s)kerb(h)-, var. of base *(s)ker-, to cut > shear

transitive verb

  1. to make or cut into a steep slope
  2. to provide with a scarp

See scarp in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
An escarpment.
transitive verb scarped, scarp·ing, scarps
To cut or make into an escarpment.

Origin:

Origin: Italian scarpa, slope

Origin: , perhaps of Germanic origin; see sker-1 in Indo-European roots

.

Learn more about scarp

link/cite print suggestion box