bulwark English · revision 2380

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈbʊl.wək/ ''(UK)''; /ˈbʊl.wɚk/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|bulwerke]],^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(AHD) [[bor|dum|bolwerc]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) or Middle Low German ''bolwerk'',^(Barnhart 1995) literally “plank work”, [[af|dum|bolle|werc|t1=plank, tree trunk|t2=work]].^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) Etymonline traces ''bole'' to Proto-Germanic ''*bul-'' and the PIE root ''*bhel-'' “to blow, swell”.^(Etymonline)^(AHD) It is a doublet of [[boulevard]].^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A substantial defensive work of earth or other material; a rampart or fortification (c1418).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Barnhart dates the form ''bulwerke'' to about 1416.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The original bulwark was a construction of logs.^(Etymonline) The figurative sense, “a powerful defence or safeguard”, sometimes applied to a person, is dated mid-15th century by Etymonline and 1577 by the OED and Barnhart.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995) Other concrete senses followed: a breakwater or sea wall (1555) and the raised sides of a ship above the deck (1804).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c1416 – ''bulwerke'', a rampart or fortification.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1450 – verb, to throw up bulwarks.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1555 – a breakwater or sea wall.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1577 – a powerful defence or safeguard.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1610 – verb, to defend or protect.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1804 – the sides of a ship above the deck.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A wall or embankment raised for defence; a rampart.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Something that serves as a defence, safeguard or strong support.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A breakwater or sea wall.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(nautical)'' The side of a ship above the upper deck; usually used in the plural.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To fortify with a wall or rampart.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To defend or protect.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bole]]

+ * [[work]]

+ * [[rampart]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary distinguishes ''bulwark'' from ''barricade'', ''breastwork'', ''earthwork'', ''rampart'', ''bastion'' and ''parapet''.^(AHD) A ''barricade'' is usually built hastily against an imminent threat, a ''breastwork'' is a low and often temporary wall, a ''rampart'' is the main permanent defensive wall, and a ''bastion'' is a projecting section of a fortification.^(AHD) ''Bulwark'', ''barricade'', ''rampart'' and ''bastion'' are the ones most often used figuratively for a safeguard.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}