escarp

[ ih-skahrp ]

noun

1. Fortification. the inner slope or wall of the ditch surrounding a rampart.
2. any similar steep slope.

verb (used with object)

1. to make into an escarp; give a steep slope to; furnish with escarps.

escarp

/ ɪˈskɑːp /

noun

1. fortifications the inner side of the ditch separating besiegers and besieged Compare counterscarp

verb

1. a rare word for scarp

Word History and Origins

Origin of escarp¹

1680–90; < French, Middle French escarpe < Italian scarpa < Germanic; scarp

Word History and Origins

Origin of escarp¹

C17: from French escarpe; see scarp

Example Sentences

Escarp′ment, the precipitous side of any hill or rock: escarp.

From Project Gutenberg

In Vauban’s works, and those of most other engineers, there was generally a postern giving access to the floor of the main ditch, in the centre of the curtain escarp.

From Project Gutenberg

Beyond the counterscarp wall some of the earth excavated from the ditch was piled up to increase the protection given to the escarp wall.

From Project Gutenberg

The stone excavated in sinking the deep ditches was used in raising the escarps; and as to the necessary labor, that was done by the army of slaves retained on the island by the Knights.

From Project Gutenberg

The beginning of the street ran between two high brown walls crowned with a ruching of broken glass: these guarded on one side the escarp of the railway, on the other a coal yard.

From Project Gutenberg