parapet

[ par-uh-pit, -pet ]

noun

1. Fortification.
   1. a defensive wall or elevation, as of earth or stone, in a fortification.
   2. an elevation raised above the main wall or rampart of a permanent fortification.
2. any low protective wall or barrier at the edge of a balcony, roof, bridge, or the like.

parapet

/ -ˌpɛt; ˈpærəpɪt /

noun

1. a low wall or railing along the edge of a balcony, roof, etc
2. Also calledbreastwork a rampart, mound of sandbags, bank, etc, in front of a trench, giving protection from fire from the front

Other Words From

• para·pet·ed adjective
• para·pet·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of parapet¹

1575–85; < Italian parapetto, equivalent to para- para- ² + petto chest, breast < Latin pectus

Word History and Origins

Origin of parapet¹

C16: from Italian parapetto, literally: chest-high wall, from para- ² + petto, from Latin pectus breast

Example Sentences

"It's just under the parapet. It's not gone away."

From BBC

And now Gilligan, another proud Rangers man and another Rangers investor, has put his head above the parapet.

From BBC

Labour has a huge Commons majority and so far only one Labour MP, Rachael Maskell, has put their head over the parapet by publicly demanding a climbdown on the winter fuel allowance.

From BBC

She added that Irish women were brought up to believe they should "never complain or put their head up above the parapet".

From BBC

Death could come suddenly, in a blinding flash, as shells exploded in or near the trenches, or from a well-aimed sniper’s bullet as a soldier peered over a trench parapet into no man’s land.

From Literature