fortifications
Military protective structures
Fortifications are defensive military structures—walls, ditches, ramparts, bunkers—designed to protect against attack.
The term covers everything from medieval castle walls to concrete bunkers: The city's fortifications held for three months.
Figuratively, fortifications can be any strengthening measures: He built up his emotional fortifications before the difficult conversation.
Defensive water ditch
- drawbridgeHinged castle entrance span
- keepRetain or fortified tower
- turretProtruding fortified structure
- battlementsNotched defensive wall top
gatehouse · portcullis · curtain wall · bailey · arrow slits · murder holes · crenelations · barbican
Fortified defensive wall
- embankmentRaised earth structure
- earthworkConstructed soil structure
- entrenchmentFortified or fixed position
- trenchLong narrow excavation
breastwork · glacis · escarpment · revetment · berm · ditch · mound · levee
Fortified defensive position
- redoubtEnclosed temporary fortification
- emplacementPrepared weapon position
- batteryPortable electricity storage
- casemateFortified gun enclosure
embrasure · sconce · bunker · pillbox · blockhouse · turret · powder magazine · armory
Sealing off a place
- roadblockObstruction across a road
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- checkpointInspection station on route
sandbags · palisade · stockade · bollard · jersey barrier · concrete barrier · fence · cordon
Fortified urban stronghold
- garrisonStationed military force
- acropolisFortified hilltop in antiquity
- keepRetain or fortified tower
- bulwarkDefensive fortification or safeguard
castle · kremlin · kasbah · hillfort · crannog · refuge · sanctuary
Violent offensive act
- bombardmentSustained projectile assault
- besiegedSurrounded by attackers
- blockadeSealing off a place
- siege towerMobile assault platform
battering ram · catapult · trebuchet · sapper · mining · breach · sally port · sortie
moat
Defensive water ditch
- drawbridgeHinged castle entrance span
- keepRetain or fortified tower
- turretProtruding fortified structure
battlements · gatehouse · portcullis · curtain wall · bailey · arrow slits · murder holes · crenelations · barbican · tower
rampart
Fortified defensive wall
- embankmentRaised earth structure
- earthworkConstructed soil structure
- entrenchmentFortified or fixed position
trench · breastwork · glacis · escarpment · revetment · berm · ditch · mound · levee · redoubt
bastion
Fortified defensive position
- redoubtEnclosed temporary fortification
- emplacementPrepared weapon position
- batteryPortable electricity storage
casemate · embrasure · sconce · bunker · pillbox · blockhouse · turret · powder magazine · armory · arsenal
blockade
Sealing off a place
- roadblockObstruction across a road
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
checkpoint · sandbags · palisade · stockade · bollard · jersey barrier · concrete barrier · fence · cordon · barbed wire
citadel
Fortified urban stronghold
- garrisonStationed military force
- acropolisFortified hilltop in antiquity
- keepRetain or fortified tower
bulwark · castle · kremlin · kasbah · hillfort · crannog · refuge · sanctuary
assault
Violent offensive act
- bombardmentSustained projectile assault
- besiegedSurrounded by attackers
- blockadeSealing off a place
siege tower · battering ram · catapult · trebuchet · sapper · mining · breach · sally port · sortie · contravallation
- Luxembourg landmarksNotre-Dame Cathedral, casemates, old town, ramparts, citadel
- defensedefense, defending, protecting, protection, security
- base buildingswalls, towers, barracks, defenses, turrets
- bordersborder, boundary, border crossing, national borders, boundary line
- city featuresstreet, road, avenue, boulevard, roundabout
- military basesoldiers, barracks, HQ, troops, hangar
fortificationssiege engines
Weapons for attacking fortifications
siege weapons · battering rams · siege towers · catapults · trebuchets
fortificationsvulnerabilities
Exploitable weak points
weak points · breaches · openings · gaps · soft targets
- field fortificationsImprovised defensive military structures
- military fortificationsDefensive combat structures
- medieval fortificationsHistoric defensive structures
- border fortificationsMilitary structures guarding boundaries
- food fortificationAdding nutrients to staples
- castle fortificationsDefensive structures surrounding keeps