堞 (dié) - Rampart & battlement — the crenellated parapet on top of

堞Tone 2

dié ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

堞 · dié

Rampart;

battlement — the crenellated parapet on top of a city wall used for defense.

Rampartbattlement — the crenellated parapet on top of

Usage highlights

City wall battlementsRampart towerBattlement wallFemale battlementBrick battlementWatchtower on ramparts

Synonyms

  • 垛— battlement; parapet
  • 雉堞— crenellated parapet

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The ancient city wall had high battlements (城堞).
  • Soldiers stood guard on the ramparts (堞楼).
  • They repaired the damaged fortifications (堞墙).

Collocations

  • City wall battlements(城堞)
  • Rampart tower(堞楼)
  • Battlement wall(堞墙)
  • Female battlement(女堞)
  • Brick battlement(砖堞)
  • Watchtower on ramparts(堞台)

Idioms

  • Towers and battlements(楼堞)
  • City walls and battlements(城堞)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 堞 refers specifically to the tooth-like projections on top of ancient Chinese city walls used for military defense.
  • These structures were essential in traditional Chinese fortification architecture, allowing defenders to shoot arrows while protected.
  • The character appears mainly in historical and architectural contexts rather than everyday modern usage.

FAQ