epaulement
(ɛˈpɔːlmənt)
Also 7 espaulment, 9 epaulment. In sense 2 ‖ épaulement (epolmɑ̃).
[a. Fr. épaulement (earlier esp-), f. épauler to protect (troops) by an epaulement, f. épaule shoulder.]
1. Fortif. ‘A covering mass raised to protect from the fire of the enemy, but differing from a parapet in having no arrangement made for the convenient firing over it by defenders’ (Adm. Smyth).
| 1687 J. Richards Jrnl. Siege Buda 8 To beat the Enemy from an Espaulment they had made to flank the Breach. 1748 Smollett Rod. Rand. xlv. (1804) 306, I never saw an epaulement but once—and that was at the siege of Namur. 1811 Pinkerton Petral. I. 43 Fasces of prisms, projecting from the wall, like epaulements. 1859 F. Griffiths Artil. Man. (1862) 251 On the balls striking the epaulment, they ricochéd. |
‖ 2. Ballet. The placing of the shoulders, one forward and the other drawn back, with the head turned to look over the forward shoulder.
| 1830 R. Barton tr. Blasis's Code of Terpsichore 67 Epaulement, opposition of the body. Ibid., Opposition, épaulement du corps; half-arm in opposition and legs in the third position. 1952 Ballet Ann. VI. 121/1 The shortcomings of the French school—poor port de bras and épaulement, bent knees and weakness in pirouettes. 1961 Guardian 8 June 8/4 Sticklike arms and an almost complete lack of épaulement. |