glacis
1 synonym for glacis, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A gentle slope, sometimes formed naturally by material being deposited or worn away.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use glacis
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
the glacis of a fortress
cross the glacis
sloping glacis
glacis plate
Outside its military and geological uses, the word is quite formal and not common in everyday speech.
Etymology
The word was borrowed from French glacis, meaning a slippery surface, which came from Old French glacier, meaning to glide or to freeze. That in turn traces back to Latin glaciare, to freeze, from glacies, meaning ice.
Full origin of glacis →Frequently asked questions
What does glacis mean?
It means a gentle slope, and in a military or architectural context it refers to a sloped bank built in front of a fort.
Why did forts have a glacis?
The slope shielded the fort's walls from cannon fire while leaving attackers exposed to fire from the defenders above.
How is glacis pronounced?
Both GLAY-sis and GLASS-ee (like "glassy") are used in British and American English.
