4. [F. rampe.] (Arch.) (a) Any sloping member, other than a purely constructional one, such as a
continuous parapet to a staircase. (b) A short bend, slope, or curve, where a hand rail or cap changes
its direction.
5. [F. rampe.] (Fort.) An inclined plane serving as a communication between different interior levels.
Rampacious
(Ram*pa"cious) a. High-spirited; rampageous. [Slang] Dickens.
Rampage
(Ramp"age) n. [See Ramp, v.] Violent or riotous behavior; a state of excitement, passion,
or debauchery; as, to be on the rampage. [Prov. or Low] Dickens.
Rampage
(Ramp"age), v. i. To leap or prance about, as an animal; to be violent; to rage. [Prov. or Low]
Rampageous
(Ram*pa"geous) a. Characterized by violence and passion; unruly; rampant. [Prov. or
Low]
In the primitive ages of a rampageous antiquity.
Galt. Rampallian
(Ram*pal"lian) n. [Cf. ramp a prostitute, or rabble.] A mean wretch. [Obs.] Shak.
Rampancy
(Ramp"an*cy) n. The quality or state of being rampant; excessive action or development; exuberance; extravagance.
"They are come to this height and rampancy of vice." South.
Rampant
(Ramp"ant) a. [F., p. pr. of ramper to creep. See Ramp, v.]
1. Ramping; leaping; springing; rearing upon the hind legs; hence, raging; furious.
The fierce lion in his kind
Which goeth rampant after his prey.
Gower.
[The] lion . . . rampant shakes his brinded mane.
Milton. 2. Ascending; climbing; rank in growth; exuberant.
The rampant stalk is of unusual altitude.
I. Taylor. 3. (Her.) Rising with fore paws in the air as if attacking; — said of a beast of prey, especially a lion.
The right fore leg and right hind leg should be raised higher than the left.
Rampant arch. (a) An arch which has one abutment higher than the other. (b) Same as Rampant
vault, below. — Rampant gardant (Her.), rampant, but with the face turned to the front. — Rampant
regardant, rampant, but looking backward. — Rampant vault (Arch.), a continuous wagon vault,
or cradle vault, whose two abutments are located on an inclined plane, such as the vault supporting a
stairway, or forming the ceiling of a stairway.
Rampantly
(Ramp"ant*ly), adv. In a rampant manner.
Rampart
(Ram"part) n. [F. rempart, OF. rempar, fr. remparer to fortify, se remparer to fence or intrench
one's self; pref. re- re- + pref. en- (L. in) + parer to defend, parry, prepare, L. parare to prepare.
See Pare.]
1. That which fortifies and defends from assault; that which secures safety; a defense or bulwark.
2. (Fort.) A broad embankment of earth round a place, upon which the parapet is raised. It forms the
substratum of every permanent fortification. Mahan.
Syn. — Bulwark; fence; security; guard. — Rampart, Bulwark. These words were formerly interchanged; but
in modern usage a distinction has sprung up between them. The rampart of a fortified place is the
