counterscarp

warfare

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 24, 2026

Quick Summary

European fortress Profile of the European fortress wall from the 16th century.

A counterscarp is the exterior slope or wall of a ditch within a fortification. This term is derived from the French contrescarpe, meaning "counter-scarp".1

The scarp, in the context of fortification, refers to the inner side of a ditch situated below the parapet. This term can also describe a steep slope of rock, earth, or ice, often formed by erosion or faulting.23

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

military technology
The sunken profile
…of the ditch, called the counterscarp, was similarly faced. Next, a level, sunken space behind the glacis, the covered way, was provided so that defenders could assemble for a sortie under cover and out of sight of the attackers. This, and the provision of firing embrasures for cannon in the…
Read More
…of the ditch, called the counterscarp, was similarly faced. Next, a level, sunken space behind the glacis, the covered way, was provided so that defenders could assemble for a sortie under cover and out of sight of the attackers. This, and the provision of firing embrasures for cannon in the…
Read More