bulwark

bul·wark

Use bulwark in a sentence

This English fort is an example of a bulwark.

noun

The definition of a bulwark is something or someone that provides defense or protection.
An example of a bulwark is a fort.

verb

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.

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"bulwark." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/bulwark>.

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bulwark. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/bulwark

bulwark

an earthwork or defensive wall; fortified rampart
breakwater
a person or thing serving as a strong defense or protection
[usually pl.] the part of a ship's side above the deck

Origin of bulwark

Middle English bulwerk from Middle Dutch bolwerc: see bole and work

to provide bulwarks for
to be a bulwark to

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MLA Style

"bulwark." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/bulwark>.

APA Style

bulwark. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/bulwark

bulwark

noun

A wall or embankment raised as a defensive fortification; a rampart.
Something serving as a defense or safeguard: “We have seen the necessity of the Union, as our bulwark against foreign danger” ( James Madison )
A breakwater.
often bulwarks The part of a ship's side that is above the upper deck.

transitive verb

bul·warked, bul·wark·ing, bul·warks

To fortify with a wall, embankment, or rampart.
To provide defense or protection for: “the wetland that bulwarked the pond” ( Edward Hoagland )

Origin of bulwark

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.)

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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MLA Style

"bulwark." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/bulwark>.

APA Style

bulwark. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/bulwark

bulwark

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.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"bulwark." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/bulwark>.

APA Style

bulwark. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/bulwark

Noun

(plural bulwarks)

A defensive wall or rampart.
A defense or safeguard.
A breakwater.
(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.

Verb

(third-person singular simple present bulwarks, present participle bulwarking, simple past and past participle bulwarked)

To fortify something with a wall or rampart.
To provide protection of defense for something.

Origin

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.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.