1. triangular fortifications built in front of the main walls of a fortress to provide additional defense
Usage: military architecture; historical

Examples

• The medieval castle featured several ravelins protecting its main gate.
• Engineers designed the ravelins to deflect cannon fire from the fortress walls.
• The star fort’s ravelins created overlapping fields of fire for defenders.
• Attackers had to overcome multiple ravelins before reaching the main fortification.
• The restoration project included rebuilding the damaged ravelins.
• Military historians studied the effectiveness of ravelins in 17th-century warfare.