Illustration of parapet
- P parapet 1
parapet
noun
par·a·pet
ˈper-ə-pət 
-ˌpet,
ˈpa-rə-
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.
Examples of parapet in a Sentence
The invaders fired arrows over the castle's parapet.
Recent Examples on the Web
For decades, a law in Ventura mandated that brick buildings be retrofitted above the roof line — strengthening only the parapet, a low wall on the roof — a minimal requirement that does not fix the vulnerability that puts the rest of the structure at risk of collapse.
—
Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2023
The Department of Buildings found cracks running from the foundation to the parapet and a three-inch gap between it and 12 Fifth, McMullan’s building.
—Curbed, 8 Sep. 2023
After Prigozhin, who will stick their head above the parapet in Putin's Russia?
Those figures are likely to underestimate the total spent on Russia’s war effort.
—Clare Sebastian, CNN, 28 Aug. 2023
She was treated as a pariah for putting her head above the parapet.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2023
The project is part of the State Highway Administration’s bridge system preservation program including rehabilitation of the bridge deck, replacement of the parapets and installation of new guardrail on both roadway approaches to the bridge, according to a SHA news release.
—Katia Parks, Baltimore Sun, 19 June 2023
One question posed in advance of Monday’s meeting asked if machinery used recently on the bridge and deck for parapet work could have contributed to further and more drastic deterioration and weakening of the dam and spillway, as was uncovered around July 18.
—Thomas Jewell, cleveland, 10 Aug. 2021
Nevertheless, by 1990, Baer had persuaded Seid to poke his head above the anonymous parapet.
—Nina Burleigh, The New Republic, 16 May 2023
Outside, a sail-like awning drapes an appropriately green hue of shade over the picnic tables; inside, a barrier now rings the bar, preventing bar service, though a translucent parapet running along the top provides open sight lines to the TVs and beer taps.
—Ian McNulty, NOLA.com, 9 Sep. 2020
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Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2023
The Department of Buildings found cracks running from the foundation to the parapet and a three-inch gap between it and 12 Fifth, McMullan’s building.
—Curbed, 8 Sep. 2023
After Prigozhin, who will stick their head above the parapet in Putin's Russia?
Those figures are likely to underestimate the total spent on Russia’s war effort.
—Clare Sebastian, CNN, 28 Aug. 2023
She was treated as a pariah for putting her head above the parapet.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2023
The project is part of the State Highway Administration’s bridge system preservation program including rehabilitation of the bridge deck, replacement of the parapets and installation of new guardrail on both roadway approaches to the bridge, according to a SHA news release.
—Katia Parks, Baltimore Sun, 19 June 2023
One question posed in advance of Monday’s meeting asked if machinery used recently on the bridge and deck for parapet work could have contributed to further and more drastic deterioration and weakening of the dam and spillway, as was uncovered around July 18.
—Thomas Jewell, cleveland, 10 Aug. 2021
Nevertheless, by 1990, Baer had persuaded Seid to poke his head above the anonymous parapet.
—Nina Burleigh, The New Republic, 16 May 2023
Outside, a sail-like awning drapes an appropriately green hue of shade over the picnic tables; inside, a barrier now rings the bar, preventing bar service, though a translucent parapet running along the top provides open sight lines to the TVs and beer taps.
—Ian McNulty, NOLA.com, 9 Sep. 2020
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'parapet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Middle French & Italian; Middle French parapete, parapet, borrowed from Italian parapetto, from para "(it) shields, protects" (3rd singular present of parare "to prepare, adorn, avert, shield") + petto "breast, chest," going back to Latin pector-, pectus — more at parry, pectoral entry 2
First Known Use
1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing parapet
Articles Related to parapet
Dictionary Entries Near parapet
Cite this Entry
“Parapet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parapet. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
parapet
noun
par·a·pet
ˈpar-ə-pət
-ˌpet
1
: a wall of earth or stone to protect soldiers
2
: a low wall or railing at the edge of a platform, roof, or bridge
More from Merriam-Webster on parapet
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for parapet
Nglish: Translation of parapet for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about parapet
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