Rampart

n. [Fr. rempart, O. Fr. rempar, from remparer, to fortify, se remparer, to fence or intrench one's self, s'emparer, to take possession of, Pr. & Sp. emparer, amparar, to seize, take possession of, to shelter, protect, L. Lat. amparare, to protect, occupy, Lat. as if imparare, adimparare, from parare, to prepare, provide, equip.]

1Sense 1. That which fortifies and defends from assault; that which secures safety.

2Sense 2. (Fort.) An elevation or mound of earth round a place, upon which the parapet is raised. Mahan.

Synonyms— Bulwark; fence; security; guard. — RAMPART, BULWARK. These words were formerly interchanged; but in modern usage a distinction has sprung up between them. The rampart of a fortified place is the entire mound or wall which surrounds it. The term bulwark is now applied to peculiarly strong outworks which project for the defense of the rampart, or main work. A single bastion is a bulwark. Hence, in using these words figuratively, rampart is more properly applied to that which protects by walling out; while bulwark is applied to that which stands in the forefront of danger, to meet and repel it. Hence, we speak of a distinguished individual as the bulwark, not the rampart, of the state. This distinction, however, is often overlooked by the poets, and is not fully introduced into general literature.