Bulwark definition

bo͝olwərk, -wôrk, bŭl-
bulwarks
See word origin
Frequency:
The part of a ship's side that is above the upper deck.
noun
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The part of a ship's side that is above the upper deck.
noun
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To bulwark is defined as to provide protection or defense such as a wall.

An example of to bulwark is to provide shields and gear in a fencing match.

verb
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The definition of a bulwark is something or someone that provides defense or protection.

An example of a bulwark is a fort.

noun
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To provide defense or protection for.
verb
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The part of a ship's side above the deck.
noun
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Something serving as a defense or safeguard.
noun
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A wall or embankment raised as a defensive fortification; a rampart.
noun
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A breakwater.
noun
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To fortify with a wall, embankment, or rampart.
verb
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A wall or embankment raised as a defensive fortification; a rampart.
noun
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Something serving as a defense or safeguard.
noun
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A breakwater.
noun
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To fortify with a wall, embankment, or rampart.
verb
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To provide defense or protection for.
verb
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An earthwork or defensive wall; fortified rampart.
noun
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noun
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A person or thing serving as a strong defense or protection.
noun
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To provide bulwarks for.
verb
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To be a bulwark to.
verb
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noun
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noun
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noun
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(nautical) 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.
noun
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To fortify something with a wall or rampart.
verb
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To provide protection of defense for something.
verb
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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
bulwark
Plural:
bulwarks

Origin of bulwark

  • Middle English bulwerk from Middle Dutch bolwerk from Middle High German bolwerc bole plank bhel-2 in Indo-European roots werc work (from Old High German werg- in Indo-European roots)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English bulwerk from Middle Dutch bolwerk from Middle High German bolwerc bole plank bhel-2 in Indo-European roots werc work (from Old High German werg- in Indo-European roots)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle High German, cognate with German Bollwerk, Danish bolværk, Dutch bolwerk. The first part is akin to bole (“trunk of a tree”). Cognates include boulevard (from French boulevard, from Dutch), Spanish baluarte and Italian baluardo.

    From Wiktionary

Bulwark Sentence Examples

  • As a bulwark against the Spanish, the colony was successful, but as an economic experiment it was a failure.

  • He held fast by the Triple Alliance, for he saw in this the surest bulwark of peace.

  • The fortress was an important bulwark against English invasion, and the town - which was created a royal burgh by David II.

  • Syracuse was for fifty years, not only, as of old, the bulwark of Europe, but the bulwark of Christendom.

  • This charter became the model for other provinces and the bulwark of the liberties of the Netherlands.

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Words near bulwark in the Dictionary