Parapet
/ˈpær.ə.pɪt/noun
A low protective wall or barrier along the edge of a roof, balcony, bridge, or fortification.
Did you know?Parapet comes through French and Italian from a Late Latin form tied to the idea of a protective breast-high wall, so its history is literally built around shielding the body.
Etymological Timeline
Late Latin
LL
parapettum
“a protective wall or breast-high barrier”
Old Italian
It
parapetto
“a breast-high wall or railing”
Old French
OF
parapet
“a protective wall or rampart”
16th Century
English
parapet
“a low wall protecting the edge of a roof, bridge, or fortification”
Modern English
English
parapet
“a low protective wall or barrier along an edge”