terreplein
See also: terre-plein
English
editAlternative forms
edit- terre-plein
- (obsolete) terraplene, teraplene, terrepleine
- (obsolete misspellings) terraplana, terraplane, terraplain, terreplaine, terreplain
Etymology
editOriginally a borrowing of Italian terrapieno (“earth-fill(ed)”), later altered after the model of French terreplein (now terre-plein). Its former misspellings arose from confusion of the second element of the name with Italian piano or French plain, plane (“flat, level”) based on the appearance of the earth-filled central platforms of walls.
Pronunciation
editNoun
editterreplein (plural terrepleins)
- (obsolete military) The sloping earthen embankment behind a defensive wall.
- (military) The level platform atop a wall, typically protected by a parapet and (strictly) distinguished from the slightly higher banquette used by its defenders.
- (military) Any level base used by artillery in the field.
- (civil engineering) Any earthen embankment with a broad level top, such as those used for a canal elevated above a valley floor.
Synonyms
edit- (sloping earthen embankment): talus
References
edit- “terreplein, n.”, in OED Online , Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 1911.
French
editNoun
editterreplein m (plural terrepleins)
- Alternative form of terre-plein
Categories:
- English terms with obsolete senses
- English terms borrowed from Italian
- English terms derived from Italian
- English terms borrowed from French
- English terms derived from French
- English 3-syllable words
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- en:Military
- French lemmas
- French nouns
- French countable nouns
- French masculine nouns