wall

views updated

wall rampart; defensive structure enclosing a town, etc.; lateral or vertical division of a building. OE. (Angl.) wall, (WS.) weall, corr. to OS., (M)LG., (M)Du. wal — L. vallum rampart, orig. palisading, f. vallus stake. Comp. wallflower plant of the genus Cheiranthus, which grows wild on old walls, etc. XVI.
Hence wall vb. XIII (OE. had ġeweallod walled).

More From encyclopedia.com