parapet
n. countablen. a low wall or fence that runs along the edge of a roof, bridge, or balcony. It is usually there to keep people safe and to stop things from falling off.
n. a low protective wall or railing running along the edge of a roof, bridge, or balcony. Often serves as a safety barrier or a decorative feature in architecture.
The workers stood on the parapet to look at the city below.
The architect designed a decorative parapet to hide the mechanical equipment on the roof from street view.
During the restoration of the historic bridge, engineers reinforced the stone parapet to ensure it could withstand the increased foot traffic and modern safety standards.
From Middle French parapet, from Italian parapetto.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 28, 2026