glacis etymology

Etymology:

• Middle French glacis
• French glisser ("to slide"), from Vulgar Latin glitiare
• Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European root *ghleid- ("to slide")

Meaning:

• A gentle slope, typically on the outer side of a fortification.
• A sloping rampart facing an enemy.
• A gradual transition from one area to another, especially in landscape design.

Origin:

The word "glacis" is derived from the French term glacis, which in turn comes from the verb glisser meaning "to slide." This etymology is appropriate as a glacis is a sloping structure that allows for the smooth sliding of objects.

In military engineering, a glacis was originally a smooth, gently sloping earthen rampart built in front of the main ramparts of a fortification. This slope served to deflect cannonballs and other projectiles, allowing them to slide harmlessly away from the fortress.

Over time, the term "glacis" came to be used more generally for any type of gentle slope, and today it is often used in landscape design to refer to a gradual transition from one level or area to another.

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