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Counterscarp

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counterscarp
The face of the ditch of a fortress sloping toward the defender.
Counterscarp 

(1) A ditch slope, close to the enemy, of a permanent or temporary fortification, used as a barrier against assaults.

(2) A steep cut in a terrain slope (hill or bank of a river) facing the defender. Counterscarps were made during the building of forts and were used extensively in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–45 as an antitank (antitransport) obstacle within the system of obstacles. The counterscarp was to tip tanks over as they descended from the top (precipice). The faces of the counterscarp were covered by artillery and rifle and machine-gun fire.
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When their comrades, restrained with great difficulty by D'Artagnan, saw them lodged upon the bastions, they rushed forward likewise; and soon a furious assault was made upon the counterscarp, upon which depended the safety of the place.
The Man in the Iron Mask by Dumas, Alexandre View in context
Then was heard a great noise of fagots being removed and of the groaning of posts; these were the counterscarps and bastions of Athos, which the besieged himself demolished.
The Three Musketeers by Dumas, Alexandre View in context
 
 
 
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