bulwark

Plural: bulwarks

Noun

• an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
• a fencelike structure around a deck (usually plural)
• a protective structure of stone or concrete; extends from shore into the water to prevent a beach from washing away
• A defensive wall or rampart.
• A defense or safeguard.
• A breakwater.
• The planking or plating along the sides of a nautical vessel above her gunwale that reduces the likelihood of seas washing over the gunwales and people being washed overboard.
• Any means of defence or security.

Verb

Verb Forms: bulwarked, bulwarking, bulwarks

• To fortify or protect with a defensive wall.
• defend with a bulwark
• To fortify something with a wall or rampart.
• To provide protection of defense for something.

Examples

• He managed to BULWARK his lead by playing two high-scoring words that blocked off the triple word scores.
• The party stalwarts constitute the bulwark that ensures the president's term of office.

Synonyms

breakwater, groin, groyne, jetty, mole, rampart, seawall, wall

Anagrams of bulwark