noun
escalade
ehs-kuh-LAYD
Escalade (noun) means the act of climbing over a wall or fortification, especially using ladders during an assault. Example: “The soldiers attempted an escalade of the castle walls under cover of darkness.”
noun
1
The act of climbing over a wall or fortification, especially using ladders during an assault.
"The soldiers attempted an escalade of the castle walls under cover of darkness."
verb
1
To climb over a fortified wall, typically using ladders.
"The attackers tried to escalade the outer defenses before dawn."
How to use escalade
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishScaling a wall or fortress, usually with ladders, as part of a military attack.
When to use it
A rare, mostly historical or military term — not used in everyday speech.
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Word forms
- Plural
- escalades
- Third person singular
- escalades
- Past tense
- escaladed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The soldiers attempted an _____ of the castle walls under cover of darkness.
Etymology
From French escalade, from Italian scalata ("a climb"), from scala, "ladder" — ultimately from Latin scālae, "ladder" or "stairs." The same root gives us "scale" (to climb) and "escalator."
Rhymes for escalade
See all rhymes for escalade →Frequently asked questions
What does “escalade” mean?
The word “escalade” means the act of climbing over a wall or fortification, especially using ladders during an assault. In plain terms, scaling a wall or fortress, usually with ladders, as part of a military attack.
How do you pronounce “escalade”?
“Escalade” is pronounced ehs-kuh-LAYD (/ˈɛskəˌleɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “escalade” in a sentence?
Here is “escalade” used in a sentence: “The soldiers attempted an escalade of the castle walls under cover of darkness.”
What part of speech is “escalade”?
Depending on how it is used, “escalade” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “escalade” come from?
The word “escalade” comes from Latin. From French escalade, from Italian scalata ("a climb"), from scala, "ladder" — ultimately from Latin scālae, "ladder" or "stairs." The same root gives us "scale" (to climb) and "escalator.".
How many meanings does “escalade” have?
“Escalade” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of climbing over a wall or fortification, especially using ladders during an assault.
