glacis
Fortified defensive incline
A glacis is a gentle slope, particularly in fortification design where it refers to the bank sloping down from a fortress, exposing attackers to defensive fire while providing no cover.
The term extends to any similar incline in landscape or architecture: The glacis led down from the castle walls to open ground.
In geology, a glacis is a gently sloping erosional surface.
Fortified defensive wall
- parapetLow wall at edge
- escarpmentSteep slope dividing elevations
- embankmentRaised earth structure
- slopeAngled terrain or steepness
bastion · citadel · redoubt · bulwark · stronghold · fortress · battlement · earthwork
Angled terrain or steepness
- escarpmentSteep slope dividing elevations
- inclineAngled rising surface
- gradientRate of change across space
- embankmentRaised earth structure
clearing · foreground · exposed · bare · open ground · field of fire · buffer · apron
rampart
Fortified defensive wall
- parapetLow wall at edge
- escarpmentSteep slope dividing elevations
- embankmentRaised earth structure
slope · bastion · citadel · redoubt · bulwark · stronghold · fortress · battlement · earthwork · defensive
slope
Angled terrain or steepness
- escarpmentSteep slope dividing elevations
- inclineAngled rising surface
- gradientRate of change across space
embankment · clearing · foreground · exposed · bare · open ground · field of fire · buffer · apron · graded
moraine
Glacier-deposited debris pile
deposit · erosion · sediment · alluvial · fluvial · landform · meltwater · drift
glacisescarpment
Steep slope dividing elevations
cliff · precipice · bluff · scarp · steep grade
- glacial lakesMeltwater-filled eroded basins
- glacial riversWaterways sourced from ice
- glacial meltFrozen mass becoming water
- glacier meltFrozen river becoming water
- glacial meltingWarming-induced ice loss
- glacial retreatShrinking of ice masses
glacial, glacier, glaciation, glaciology, glaciated, glaciologist, glacé