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.

parapeted

ˈper-ə-ˌpe-təd 

ˈpa-rə-

adjective

Illustration of parapet

• P parapet 1

Examples of parapet in a Sentence

The invaders fired arrows over the castle's parapet.

Recent Examples on the Web

And to allay the fears of brownstone-dwellers: A cornice is not a parapet, so most brownstones don’t actually have parapets. —Kim Velsey, Curbed, 9 Oct. 2024

About 100 parapet caps were taken from a bridge near Ryecroft Lane and tossed into Harpeth River sometime on Aug. 7, Franklin Police said. —Gabrielle Chenault, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Aug. 2024

The fire caused damage to the parapet wall along the northbound portion. —Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 22 Dec. 2024

Besides roof-sealing, parapets stop people from accidentally falling off the edge of the roof and provide a firebreak between rowhouses. —Kim Velsey, Curbed, 9 Oct. 2024

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

• put/stick/raise one's head above the parapet

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