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

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

The castle’s stately facade has been maintained throughout the centuries with masons carefully restoring its chimneys, turrets, and parapet roofs, in addition to a 15th-century stone carriage bridge. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2024

Meanwhile, a parapet would stand at 28 feet 6 inches and the skylight would be at 29 feet 1 inch. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2025

Then, as the credits sequence continues through the creative team, things get more ominous: Monkeys assemble together, climbing the parapets, even as someone tries to hold them off (?) with a spider. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for parapet

• alphabet
• arpanet
• bayonet
• biuret
• cigarette
• clarinet
• coronet
• coverlet
• dataset
• epithet
• ethernet
• heavyset

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