Parapet
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A parapet consists of a dwarf wall along the edge of a roof, or round a lead flat, terrace walk, etc., to prevent persons from falling over, and as a protection to the defenders in case of a siege. The word comes from the Italian parapetto and/or the French parapet, from Italian para, imperative of Italian parare (to cover, defend) and petto (breast), ultimately from the Latin pectus (breast); the Germans use the term Brustwehr (breast-defence).
Parapets are either plain, embattled, perforated or panelled. The last two are found in all styles except the Romanesque.
- Plain parapets are simply portions of the wall generally overhanging a little, with a coping at the top and corbel table below.
- Embattled parapets are sometimes panelled, but oftener pierced for the discharge of arrows, etc.
- Perforated parapets are pierced in various devices as circles, trefoils, quatrefoils and other designs so that the light is seen through.
- Panelled parapets are those ornamented by a series of panels, either oblong or square, and more or less enriched, but not perforated. These are common in the Decorated and Perpendicular periods.
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References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition{{#if:{{{article|}}}| article {{#if:{{{url|}}}|[{{{url|}}}}} "{{{article}}}"{{#if:{{{url|}}}|]}}{{#if:{{{author|}}}| by {{{author}}}}}}}, a publication now in the public domain.
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