RAMPART

, or Rampier, in Fortification, a massy bank or elevation of earth around a place, to cover it from the direct fire of an enemy, and of sufficient thickness to resist the efforts of their cannon for many days. It is formed into bastions, curtains, &c.

Upon the Rampart the soldiers continually keep guard, and the pieces of artillery are planted for defence. Also, to shelter the men from the enemy's shot, the outside of the Rampart is built higher than the rest, i. e. a parapet is raised upon it with a platform. It is encompassed with a moat or ditch, out of which is dug the earth that forms the Rampart, which is raised sloping, that the earth may not slip down, and having a berme at bottom, or is otherwise fortified, being lined with a facing of brick or stone.

The height of the Rampart need not be more than 3 fathoms, this being sufficient to cover the houses from the battery of the cannon; neither need its thickness be more than 10 or 12, unless more earth come out of the ditch than can otherwise be bestowed.

The Ramparts of halfmoons are the better for being low, that the small fire of the defendants may the better reach the bottom of the ditch; but yet they must be so high as not to be commanded by the covertway.

Rampart is also used, in civil architecture, for the void space left between the wall of a city and the houses. This is what the Romans called Pomœrium, where it was forbidden to build, and where they planted rows of trees for the people to walk and amuse themselves under.