Revetment
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 12:46 pm
I had always thought of this word as being military in usage. Turns out I was wrong. Though it can have military applications, it is really just a nice word for "retaining wall". It can also be merely ornamental facing in stone or masonry.
My apartment building has a small revetment of bricks bordering the sidewalk, to keep the sloped landscaping from spreading.
As with sardith's idea of using macadam to refer to people, I would say we could use this one that way, too. Especially as a revetment keeps things both in and out.
"After being hurt so many times in a row, I put a revetment about my heart." ("I" here being a generic, not me.)
My apartment building has a small revetment of bricks bordering the sidewalk, to keep the sloped landscaping from spreading.
As with sardith's idea of using macadam to refer to people, I would say we could use this one that way, too. Especially as a revetment keeps things both in and out.
"After being hurt so many times in a row, I put a revetment about my heart." ("I" here being a generic, not me.)