parados

[prettygoodword]

parados - n., an embankment behind a trench or fortification to protect soldiers from a rear attack.


I keep thinking it's part of the altar furniture of a church -- but maybe that's just me. From French, from parer, to defend + dos, back (from Latin, dorsum, from whence dorsal).

---L.

Comments

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean - the altar furniture is reredos, which probably has a similar etymology.

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

Similar, yeah: from French, from Middle French arere, behind (see arrear) + dos, back.

---L.