embankment
UK: ɪmˈbæŋkmənt | US: ɪmˈbæŋkmənt
n. a raised structure, typically made of earth or stone, built to hold back water or support a road or railway.
The word "embankment" combines the prefix "em-" (a variant of "en-," meaning "in" or "into"), the root "bank" (from Old Norse "bakki," meaning "ridge" or "slope"), and the suffix "-ment" (from Latin "-mentum," forming nouns indicating an action or resulting state). Originally, it referred to the act of constructing a raised barrier, later evolving to denote the structure itself. The logic reflects physical reinforcement—building up land to confine or support.
The river was controlled by a massive embankment to prevent flooding.
Workers reinforced the embankment along the railway track.
The ancient city's embankment protected it from tidal surges.
A scenic walking path runs atop the grassy embankment.
The embankment collapsed after days of heavy rain.