noun
bulwark
BOOL-werk/ˈbʊlwɜːrk/
A strong defense against danger or attack.
The massive seawall forms a bulwark against the breaking waves.
Etymology
The ancestor named a rampart or barricade, a physical defense against attack. That concrete protection became an image for anything serving as a strong defense or safeguard.
In context
The thunder shield evolves into a bulwark, its defensive range vastly expanded, its shielding and defense soaring, gaining additional heavy damage reduction, and able to cover others.
More examples
- Independent courts can be a bulwark against arbitrary power.
- The dunes serve as a natural bulwark against storm waves.
- The fortress's bulwarks protected the harbor entrance.
Forms
bulwark · bulwarks
Similar words
- barrier
- Any obstruction, while bulwark emphasizes protective strength.