Main Entry: es·carp·ment

Pronunciation: \i-ˈskärp-mənt\

Function: noun

Etymology: French escarpement, from escarper to scarp, from Middle French, from escarpe scarp, from Old Italian scarpa — more at scarp

Date: circa 1802

1 : a steep slope in front of a fortification
2 : a long cliff or steep slope separating two comparatively level or more gently sloping surfaces and resulting from erosion or faulting