The planking or plating along the sides of a nautical vessel above her gunwale that reduces the likelihood of seas washing over the gunwales and people being washed overboard.
A defensive wall or rampart.
A defense or safeguard.
A breakwater.
Any means of defence or security.
To fortify something with a wall or rampart.
To provide protection of defense for something.
A floating platform attached at one end to a wharf so as to rise and fall with the tide, and thus facilitate passage between the wharf and a vessel lying beside the stage.