parapet

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noun par·a·pet \ ˈper-ə-pət , -ˌpet , ˈpa-rə- \

Definition of parapet

1 :a wall, rampart, or elevation of earth or stone to protect soldiers

The invaders fired arrows over the castle's parapet.

2 :a low wall or railing to protect the edge of a platform, roof, or bridge — called also parapet wall

The visitor peered over the parapet with binoculars.

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parapeted

play \ˈper-ə-ˌpe-təd, ˈpa-rə-\ adjective

See parapet defined for English-language learners

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Examples of parapet in a Sentence

The invaders fired arrows over the castle's parapet.

Recent Examples of parapet from the Web

That goes from the stone parapet walls on its roof gables to its massive elaborate chimneys.

— judy rose, Detroit Free Press, "Northville manor house features many Tudor-like touches," 1 July 2017
MORE: The 20 Most Essential Game of Thrones Episodes 0:37: Jaime takes a not-so-leisurely stroll on the parapets of the Red Keep.

— megan mccluskey, Time, "We Analyzed Every Second of the New Game of Thrones Season 7 Trailer," 21 June 2017
There would be waist-high parapet walls on either side of the walkway.

— james barron, New York Times, "Plan for Inclined Path in Central Park Worries Preservationists," 11 June 2017
Hannibal sacked the place in 219 B.C., Napoleon’s army seized the castle after a siege in 1811 and the ancient parapets were used as machine-gun turrets during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s.

— pat eaton-robb, The Seattle Times, "Take a day-trip back in time to Spain’s Sagunto castle," 18 May 2017
Mock 500-pound bombs hang in the bomb bay, and visitors can walk along the narrow parapet that runs from the cockpit, and nose turret, to the rest of the plane.

— tom mcghee, The Denver Post, "One of only 12 flying B-17s left in the U.S. is visiting Colorado, and you can fly in it this weekend," 15 May 2017
Academic histories of the Revolution, though, have been peeping over the parapets, joining scholarly scruples to contemporary polemic.

— adam gopnik, The New Yorker, "We Could Have Been Canada," 15 May 2017
Just three months earlier, Huang Lai, a 41-year-old Chinese woman, climbed from the window of her cell and attempted to jump from a parapet on the building’s 14th floor.

— daniela blei, Smithsonian, "A Federal Immigration Building with a Dark Past," 12 May 2017
The family also had built the 1898 Drechsler Building on Lake Street — with the name and date emblazoned on the parapet.

— felicia dechter, chicagotribune.com, "Tales Our Houses Tell: Historical Society housewalk set," 27 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'parapet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of parapet

Origin and Etymology of parapet

Italian parapetto, from parare to shield (from Latin, to prepare) + petto chest, from Latin pectus — more at pare, pectoral

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1590

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Other Architecture Terms

buttress, casita, cornice, fanlight, garret, lintel, pilaster, plinth

PARAPET Defined for English Language Learners

parapet

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noun

Definition of parapet for English Language Learners

: a low wall at the edge of a platform, roof, or bridge

PARAPET Defined for Kids

parapet

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noun par·a·pet \ ˈper-ə-pət , -ˌpet \

Definition of parapet for Students

1 :a low wall or fence at the edge of a platform, roof, or bridge

2 :a wall of earth or stone to protect soldiers

Learn More about parapet

See words that rhyme with parapet Spanish Central: Translation of parapet Nglish: Translation of parapet for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about parapet

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parapet

Definition of parapet

parapeted

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Recent Examples of parapet from the Web

Illustration of parapet

Origin and Etymology of parapet

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PARAPET Defined for English Language Learners

parapet

Definition of parapet for English Language Learners

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parapet

Definition of parapet for Students

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parapet

Definition of parapet

parapeted

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PARAPET Defined for English Language Learners

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Definition of parapet for English Language Learners

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