breast

1) A solid wall built to retain a bank of earth.

1600 banckes, brestes, weares and clowes, Beeston

1699 To Brest or Solid wharfeing, Naburn Lock. When the same writer passed through Tadcaster, he commented on a Stone Bridge Building of 9 arches all turned & keyd and halfe ye brest walling finished. The causeys that lead up to bridges were substantial constructions and breast was the term used in 1687 for the raised sides, made of hewn stone. In 1700, the breast wall against the river, along the way side at Apperley bridge end [was] washed down and decayed.

spellings breast wall
dates 1600 1687 1699

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