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agger

agger

9.9
A raised bank of earth built to support a road or defend a place
  • noun
  • /ˈæɡər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : agger
  • The archaeologists discovered an agger that was part of an ancient fortification in Britain.

Examples

  • The ancient Romans built an agger to fortify their military camps.

  • Walking south from Bignor Hill, one soon comes to open sheep-grazed pasture at Gumber Farm, where the scale of the agger of the road can be clearly seen.

    Blog text (27)
  • As we hiked along the old Roman road, we could see the grassy agger that marked its path.

Synonyms

embankment
vsagger
22 5.9

A raised bank of earth or stone that keeps water away and supports a road

is used by ancient builders for roads and defensive works
rampart
vsagger
12 8.8

A wide wall of earth or stone that protects a castle

is often narrower and also used as raised road construction
fortification
vsagger
9 6.6

A wall or earth mound built to protect a place from attack

is a more specific raised embankment used by Romans for roads or defenses
protective embankment
vsagger
  • Specialized
7.5

A steep slope in front of a fort made by people that protects it from attack

is a raised embankment used for roads or general defense not a steep slope
escarp
vsagger
  • Specialized
9.9

A steep man-made slope in front of a fort's walls that makes attack harder

is a raised bank serving roads or broader defensive roles not just wall fronts
escarpment
vsagger
  • Specialized
9.4

A steep man-made slope in front of a fort to stop attackers

is a raised embankment serving roads and Roman construction rather than a steep slope

Antonyms

173 1.0

A long, narrow trench in the ground that carries water

depression
  • Specialized
11 5.3

A low area of land that forms a hollow

How High

rampart
12 8.8
embankment
22 5.9
agger
  • Specialized
9.9
bank
160 3.0
mound
40 1.7

Surface Forms

agger singular
aggers plural

Etymology

The word agger comes from the Latin agger, meaning 'mound' or 'heap', and the Romans used it for the raised earth they built under roads and walls. So an agger is a high bank or embankment that helped protect roads from water and enemies.